Health & Safety education matters to Ontario FS employees

For the fourth year in a row, Erin Aldred, GROWMARK Health & Safety specialist has held an annual FS Ontario Health and Safety training day. Each year attendance grows and yesterday’s meeting saw the biggest turn out yet with about 30 people in total from North Wellington Co-operative, FS PARTNERS, Huron Bay Co-operative, GROWMARK and AGRIS Co-operative.

The meeting opened up with an exercise in teamwork with Barry Hannah, GROWMARK senior trainer, leading the group through an imaginary Subarctic Survival Situation™, where participants had to work together to figure out the best tools and strategies needed to keep their team alive! The exercise reinforced the need to communicate effectively by listening, participating and keeping focused.

Environmental awareness, precisely in respect to protecting ground water was the topic delivered by Dennis Newman, GROWMARK environmental services manager and Bernie Benoit, with the Agriculture Warehouse Standards Association (AWSA) engaged the group in several interactive mock emergency scenarios such as chemical spills or serious on-site injuries. Participants had to determine what steps to take and in what sequence during an emergency situation. Benoit’s overall key message to the group was the importance of having a good (but simple) plan in place, keeping a cool head and using common sense.

Aldred briefed the group on government legislative changes and introduced upcoming Bill 160, noting that the new bill will have a major impact on how we manage many of our health and safety practices. As well, it is expected that the Ontario Ministry of Labour will be putting a stronger emphasis on health and safety prevention in the future.

Aldred closed the meeting by challenging everyone to keep focused on possible hazards at their branch and home and continue to keep health and safety in the forefront every day.



Erin Aldred, GROWMARK Health & Safety specialist quizzes participants at FS Annual Health & Safety Conference. Jerry VanCasteren of FS PARTNERS receives a prize for answering correctly!