Corporate

Agriculture in 2018 13,434 businesses* were operating in the agriculture sector 99% of these employed fewer than 100 people, with 83% employing 4 individuals or less** The Lost-Time Injury Rate for agriculture was 1.88 2 people died from traumatic workplace injuries* *Active WSIB accounts, March 2019 Detailed Sub-Sector Reports **Full-time equivalents, as per above source ***Statistics Canada Table 14-10-0023-01 Labour Force Characteristics by Industry, Annual 1 2017 WSIB By the Numbers Report 2 2017 WSIB By the Numbers Report 3 Survey conducted between September 2015 and January 2016 and polled more than 1,100 farmers across Canada https://news.uoguelph.ca/ 2016/06/farmers-need-want-mental-health-help-survey/ 4 Stop Think Act is a simple behaviour-based program that encourages people to consider the task at hand and ask themselves how their own actions could contribute to a safe and productive outcome. It is based on a component of Imperial Oil's safety program. Imperial Oil and its Esso branded bulk fuel resellers collaborate with WSPS to get the messages out to farmers. Working with landscaping industry to reduce injuries For over 15 years, the landscaping industry experienced the highest lost-time injury (LTI) rate in the agriculture/horticulture sector 1 . Landscape Ontario (LO) made a strong commitment to turn this around, partnering with WSPS to support improvement in the industry, resulting in a drop in the LTI rate from 3.70 to 2.50 2 over the last 10 years. LO is the province's premier horticultural trade association and WSPS collaborates with them on health and safety resource development, making simple tools and information easily accessible for LO's more than 2,000 members. In 2018/19, WSPS delivered training sessions and presentations on managing mental health, cannabis/impairment in the workplace, and health and safety tools for small businesses at 10 LO regional chapter meetings and the LO Congress. Annually, WSPS plays a key role in providing training seminars at LO's Milton and Ottawa locations. Educating agricultural workplaces on mental health A 2016 University of Guelph survey found that about 60% of Canadian farmers experienced anxiety, 35% suffered from depression and 45% had high stress 3 . In 2017, WSPS initiated conversations on mental health with farmers and in 2018/19, delivered 14 sessions on the topic for the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA), the International Society of Arborists, the Ontario Poultry Industry Council and others. Attendees at an OFA session expressed high satisfaction (4.5/5 in a survey) and a strong intent to apply the information and share it with others. WSPS spread the word about mental health in its Farm Safety Gazette newsletter, which is sent to over 12,000 farms, and through publications such as Ontario Farmer, Better Farmer and Farms.com, reaching a total of 101,203 subscribers. WSPS continues to work with the University of Guelph to develop training that can help farms manage mental health. Health and safety for future farmers In March of 2018, WSPS teamed up with the Agriculture Health and Safety Alliance (AHSA) on an innovative education program for 150 young and future farmers. AHSA is a non-profit organization that seeks to educate agriculture students in Canada, the United States and Australia on best practices in health and safety. With WSPS' support and incorporating elements from Stop Think Act 4 , AHSA delivered the Gearing Up for Health and Safety program at Guelph's Ridgetown Agriculture College in 6 sessions over 4 days. Participant surveys showed that the training resonated strongly with students. WSPS and AHSA have developed train the trainer materials and are exploring ways to bring the program to more students. 12,300 of these individuals were between 15 and 24 years old*** 1% of those employed in Ontario worked in the agriculture sector That represents 69,000 people

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