'It’s life changing': Farm safety top of mind during harvest
Agriculture is one of Saskatchewan’s largest and most dangerous industries.
One Saskatchewan farmer saw the hazards of the industry in 2003, when he lost part of his arm to a piece of farm machinery.
Bruce Osiowy was working alone on his farm near Abernethy, when his hand was caught in a rock picker.
After 66 hours of being trapped, he cut off his fingers to free himself.
"This kind of stuff happens so fast and its life changing,” said Bruce Osiowy.
Osiowy said the accident changed the way farms operate, saying they had to start contacting workers on a regular basis.
Communication is one of the best ways to stay safe during harvest, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
"A lot of farms now have hired help, and making sure they have a good communication strategy with all of their employees, on farm safety, and best practices around that," Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture David Marit said.
The Yorkton Fire Department has made farm safety a focus after receiving multiple calls for help.
“We have been exposed to multiple grain bin rescues. Most of those recues, unfortunately, have been recoveries, which is a high instance in this world,” Yorkton Fire Chief Trevor Morrissey said.
The crew has spent the past week learning how to save someone who may be entrapped.
"If you find yourself in this situation, try bring your knees to your chest, and cuff your hands over your mouth, this will give you space to breathe,” Yorkton Fire crew member Casey Pfeifer said.
While the fire crew practiced rescue strategy, they also wanted to inform farmers of potential hazards.
“Our goal is to educate,” Morrissey said.
Raising awareness for farm safety has also been a mission for Bruce Osiowy.
"Be as safe as you can, and be as conscience as you can,” he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
BREAKING Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.