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Ideas Shared

​Leaders in Ag Safety

12/3/2019

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Leaders in Ag Safety is a targeted one-day event for farm owner/operators, ranchers, and agri-business safety managers.  

​This event focuses on educating the next generation of agriculture/agri-business by building and strengthening connections between the farming community and the safety community.

​This year, the Industrial Safety Seminar has added sessions specifically for producers to learn from and connect with safety managers and experts on a variety of topics such as:
• Mental health 
• The Farm Safety Program
• Safety Around Power
• Farming Coverage in Saskatchewan - WCB
• Safety Resources and PPE

This is a new addition to the Industrial Safety Seminar will take place on Monday, February 3rd, 2020.
For many years, we've attended agriculture shows across the province and were often barely noticed in comparison to the best looking cattle, hi-tech seeds and fertilizers, or the coolest new combine, sprayer, or tractor. Many times, the few conversations we engaged in were with patrons who had suffered a family loss due to agriculture injuries, all agreeing that something more should be done.
This year, rather than continuing to be the "safety nerds in the corner at the farm shows", we're inviting Saskatchewan farm operators to participate in the premier safety event in Saskatchewan, where safety is the showcase, the bling, and the wow.
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Sign Up
Forming a part of our Industrial Safety Seminar, the one-day Leaders in Ag Safety event will engage farm owner/operators, ranchers, and agri-business safety managers in conversations that will lead to a reduction in the number of injuries in their business, create business efficiencies, save them money and time. A limited number of seats are available and for most farm leaders, the cost will be covered. Register today for the 2020 Leaders in Ag Safety by emailing AgLeaders@sasksafety.org.
The 47th Annual Industrial Safety Seminar will be held at the World Trade Centre at Prairieland Park, Saskatoon, SK. The day begins with Breakfast, after which, Ag Leaders attend the Keynote speaker presentation for the day followed by a series of Leaders in Ag Safety sessions, lunch, and a private tour of the Exhibitors at their leisure. (Full agenda TBD).

This one-day event is a great networking opportunity for producers and safety experts alike offering both a chance to learn from and share knowledge with each other. It provides an insight into what the Industrial Safety Seminar is all about in hopes that ag operators will be more inclined to become involved with the event not only as delegates but also as presenters and exhibitors.

The Council realizes that many producers/agri-business managers are interested in safety and may not have the time to attend for the full 2.5 days but may be able to experience Seminar in a condensed version with sessions aimed at agriculture safety. 

This event is aimed at producer’s province wide that have a farm/agri-business operations with three or more employees.
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​Congratulations Albert E. Peacock Collegiate!

11/12/2019

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Perhaps you heard, we ran a contest for schools this past fall from September 3rd to October 18th, in which schools could enter to win a grand prize of $3,000.00 by registering their class for Career Safety Education and then completing the program by the deadline date. We had more than 30 schools in the running, and we are happy to announce that Albert E. Peacock Collegiate are the lucky winners!

Vern, the teacher of the winning class, was speechless when he heard the news, thanking us repeatedly. When we asked him about the program, he said “The Career Safety Education covers all the topics I teach as well as others. The program is a very well-rounded course that allows students to think of their future in the world of work and how it may affect them and their safety. Introducing youth to these topics in the safety of school rather than the possibly rushed atmosphere of the work world can, and should, provide a better foundation of safety.” 

On November 4, 2019, I took a little road trip to hand deliver their prize and spend some time with the winning class. When I arrived at the school, the students and Vern welcomed and thanked me. We took a quick group photo of the winning class in the library and then celebrated with a surprise pizza lunch from Vern. Before leaving, I asked the students a few safety questions and was thrilled that each student answered each and every question with confidence and a smile. Vern expressed multiple times how amazing his students are, and, after meeting them myself, I agree that Vern is one lucky teacher.
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Winning $3,000.00 for your school can be exciting, especially when you brainstorm ideas for what your school will do with the winnings. Vern expressed that “The school will discuss the idea of possibly buying or upgrading signage for the school regarding safety and they plan to set up a scholarship that would be available to students from all grades regarding school safety." He also said that "The importance of safety is often talked about, but not often is a program like this is provided to do anything about improving safety.”

From all of us at Saskatchewan Safety Council, thank you for participating in our Career Safety Education program.

- Amanda
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A Summer of Safety and Shenanigans.

10/31/2019

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Good-bye Summer, You Will Be Missed

10/17/2019

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This summer was filled with excitement, as there were many firsts for Lavina and I over the past few months. From the Cade Sprackman Safety Day in Hudson Bay, SK and the Annual Summer Bash event; to the 4th Annual First Ride event and creating summer pet safety content on location at the Regina Humane Society. But now, it is October, and the temperatures are changing, the leaves are falling, and the dreaded “S” word is on the way. We say good-bye to summer, but first, we look back at the adventures Lavina and I had over the summer months. 

On August 25th, 2019, Saskatchewan Safety Council attended the Annual Summer Bash event, located in Harbour Landing in Regina, SK. This all-day event brings many organizations together, to offer a fun day for families in the community. There were bouncy castles, food trucks, furry friends to adopt, dog talent shows, children activities and organizations with safety booths. At our booth, we ran a colouring contest! This was open to all ages, and only required creativity. Participants were asked to create their own Safety Superhero and reference their safety superpowers. Lavina and I manned the Safety Council booth with a lot of help from our volunteers – Raiane, Arletta and Sharla - who were so generous to offer their time to help us ensure that the activity ran smoothly, and the participants had a blast! 

The best part about entering this contest is of course… prizes! There were 3 gift baskets for different age categories. There was 2-5 years, 6-9 and 10 and up. We had a total of 322 entries into the contest, and we needed to narrow the judging to 5 in each category. This was a hard decision to make, and I couldn’t choose the winners alone. We ran a judging panel at our office, where each staff member had to choose ONE in each category, who they think used the best creativity for their Safety Superhero. The winners were chosen, and I hand delivered the gift baskets. Each winner was thrilled, thankful and smiling from ear to ear. Michael, who was our 5-year-old winner tells me that he wants to be a Police Officer when he grows up, and he knows being safe is number one. You’re right Michael, and I hope to see you one day as a Police Officer, keeping people in our community safe!

As temperatures changed throughout the summer, we had a few hot days. In the heat, our pets are vulnerable to heat stroke, becoming dehydrated and burning the bottom of their paws on scorching hot cement. Lavina and I made our way to the Regina Humane Society and spent some time with Candace, who took time out of her day to share some safety tips for pet owners. Keeping pets in the shade on hot days is important, staying hydrated, and walking on the grass if the cement is too hot. But wait, how do you know if the walking path is too hot for your pets’ paws? Do a 3 second test with your hand to check. If the temperature is too hot for you… then walking on the path is not a good idea for your pets’ paws, so take a stroll on the grass instead.
Safety Superhero design contest.
Safety Superhero Contest winner in the age 2-5 category.
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Safety Superhero Contest winner in the age 6-9 category.
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Safety Superhero Contest winner in the 10+ age category.
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While our visit was short at the Regina Humane Society, we were able to squeeze in a little puppy snuggle time. There is something therapeutic about snuggling a puppy, it sure does make your soul happy. For me however, I tend to make rash decisions and want to adopt them all. 
Pictured here is Star, she was up for adoption when we were creating this safety content but has since been adopted and I am sure she is enjoying her new home with her family. 
​Our pets are a part of our family, and to some, they are our children. Remember to keep them safe and cool in the summer heat. Now that fall is here, we may not have to worry about the hot summer temperatures, but we do have to remember these tips for when summer comes around again. Lavina, Amanda, & Star

Lavina, Amanda, & Star

Safety content is being created each and every day. I want to say a huge thank you to our volunteers, our subscribers, our members, and our community champions for your help in creating, sharing, and helping us work towards a province of safety excellence in Saskatchewan! 

If you would like to become a volunteer with us, please reach out, we would be overjoyed to work with you. You can send an email to: volunteer@sasksafety.org today.
Thanks for taking time to read the Blog. For now, we have to say good-bye to summer, and hello to fall! Stay tuned everyone, more safety content is on the way.
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The School Year Begins...Safe Driving Practices in School Zones

8/28/2019

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When September comes around each year, those empty school zones that we drove through all summer are suddenly the busiest areas of the city. Hundreds of children that are meeting up with friends, getting dropped off by parents, and rushing to beat the bell have chaotically packed themselves into a few city blocks. Their excited attention is drawn in every direction and it is our responsibility as drivers to be attentive and cautious as we make our way through the area.
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Driving through a school zone is more than simply slowing down to 30 km/h. It also requires a strong layer of attention and patience, which are most effective when they are working hand in hand. This gives drivers the ability to better react to a potentially sudden situation. A child can be injured just as severely by a car driving at 30 km/h as one moving at 50km/h however the reduced speed gives the driver much more control of the vehicle and the ability to pay more attention to the surroundings. 

An excellent safe practice is to create a wider school zone area than that of the posted 30km/h signs. You don’t necessarily have to slow down (it would be great if you did) but widening the zone by a few blocks has many benefits. You mentally prepare yourself before entering the actual school zone instead of spending the first block paying your attention to slowing down. As well, children are walking to and from school much farther away than the school zone so you’re creating an even safer environment for them to walk in. This is especially important during the winter season.

Keep in mind the attention of a child can be very narrow. While they understand safety rules and procedures, such as looking both ways before crossing a street, they may not be able to see a potential problem as far ahead as an adult. Therefore, it is up to the driver to take up the responsibility and make sure we’re ready for anything that can happen in a school zone. Slow down, pay attention, and make safety the right choice.

School Buses
School buses are a unique vehicle on the road. They make frequent stops, often in places that other vehicles don’t such as railway crossings. They have access to areas that we aren’t used to accounting for in normal traffic flow which can catch us by surprise. They also have a lot of lights and signs that can be confusing for other drivers to understand what exactly to do since there are different models of school buses and different laws that apply to them. If we aren’t prepared for all of the extra possible scenarios a school bus can present to us, then the chances of an incident increase.

The best way to start preparing yourself is to know the school bus laws. Each city, town and village has their own bylaws for school buses so if you move to a new area, check with City Hall for clarification. For Regina and Saskatoon, the use of flashing safety lights and bus stop arms are prohibited. While this seems odd, there are actually very good reasons for this. As Sgt. Koroluk from the Regina Police Service states:
  • School buses in Regina load and unload passengers near intersections whenever one of the passengers needs to cross the street. The students exit the school bus and stays on the sidewalk while the school bus drives away. They proceed to the nearest intersection and cross the street taking all normal precautions they have been taught. At the intersection, the pedestrian has the right-of-way and has a clear view of oncoming traffic. The school bus is not blocking the visibility of the pedestrian.
  • The use of stop arms and safety lights may promote the crossing of streets from behind parked vehicles and mid-block.
  • These devices could give the students a false sense of security and therefore not take normal precautions to avoid motorists who do not obey them for one reason or another.
  • In most situations in Regina, school buses have a parking lane in which to stop. They load and unload on the right hand side of the street. Therefore, the stopping of traffic would not be necessary and could create more of a hazard than the degree of safety it provides.
  • This means that vehicles can safely pass around a stopped school bus. However, it is imperative that caution is taken as a child can potentially run out onto the road on either side of the bus. Slow your vehicle down and keep careful watch as you pass. If you’re in a school zone, you should already be doing less than 30km/h however there are times where you’ll encounter a stopped school bus outside of a school zone. No matter what the situation, make it a personal rule to drop down to 30 km/h whenever passing a bus.

Another way to adjust your driving during the school season is to leave 5-10 minutes earlier than normal for work for the first few weeks of September. This will give you that extra time to deal with increased traffic in school zones and to compensate if you have school buses in front of you that make frequent stops. If you find after those few weeks that there isn’t any interruption, then go ahead and take back those extra 10 minutes of sleep!

Not only will making this time adjustment make sure you get to work on time, it also ensures that you keep calm during your drive. If a school bus is holding you up and making you late for work, your stress level will increase. You might accelerate quickly around a bus or speed above the limit after the bus isn’t in front of you which greatly increases your chance of a traffic incident. Then you’ll be late for work and you potentially injure someone.

Take the time to plan for the increased traffic changes from school buses. Students, parents, and bus drivers will all appreciate you for it.

A popular practice for the police during the school year is to set up speed radars in school zones. It is a pretty sure bet that every school zone in your city or town will see a police setup within the first few weeks of the school year.
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As mentioned before, the faster you go, the harder it is to react to a situation. When you speed, not only are you disrupting the flow of traffic, you are putting yourself in a situation where you can severely or fatally injure someone. Don’t put the lives of hundreds of children at risk because you’re late for work or decide that you don’t need to follow speed limits. If you think that you’ll be able to react safely if something happens, think again.
A vehicle takes a longer distance to stop even at slightly higher speeds. A simple concept, yes, but it’s more than you may know. 

According to Forensic Dynamics Inc., here is the stopping distance for vehicles travelling at 40/50/60 km/h in ideal conditions:

40 km/h = 8.6 meters
50 km/h = 14.05 meters
60 km/h = 20.24 meters

These numbers, of course, can vary depending on the type of vehicle, tires, etc. however the point is that even from 40 to 50 km/h there is a significant difference in how long it takes your vehicle to stop.   

It would be a true achievement if a school zone speed radar blitz issued zero tickets. That is the goal of the police service and it should be everyone else’s goal as well to make safety the right choice and not speed.
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Take a Safe-Tea Break

8/14/2019

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Amanda & Lavina talk Safe-Tea.Amanda & Lavina talk Safe-Tea.
by Amanda LePine - Community Relations Coordinator

​
The other day, I had mentioned to Lavina that I’d never been to the Vintage Tea Room in Regina. She said, “They have great food, and an amazing atmosphere, we should go!” So Lavina and I went for lunch that same day.

I can’t speak for Lavina, but I know the experience I had was extraordinary. Several types of tea to choose from, a large menu with tasty mixtures of ingredients, and the dessert list was my weakness. I had 3 different kinds of desserts, and every single bite was delicious. I highly recommend a visit to the Vintage Tea Room. The owners, Karen and Doug, sure have a passion for what they do and they provide outstanding customer service.

As we indulged in lunch, I mentioned how neat it would be to talk about our new informal speaker series called Safe-Tea while in the Vintage Tea Room. “We could get all dressed up, sip tea, and make content to share with everyone in the community,” I suggested.

Now, you may be wondering, what is Safe-Tea? The Safe-Tea is a FREE one-hour presentation at a venue of your choice. The Saskatchewan Safety Council created Safe-Tea as a platform for conversations with seniors and their caregivers. Initially, the topics will include home fall prevention, fraud prevention, and our Mature Driver Refresher Course (55-Alive).

Within a couple of days, Lavina and I were back at the Vintage Tea Room for our production day. Karen and Doug were thrilled to have us. Karen brought out her special silver tea set and shared with us some tea drinking etiquette. Did you know lifting your pinky while drinking tea is not proper? I did not! To properly sip tea, you can hold your teacup with both hands, but when you bring your cup to your lips… you should be holding the teacup with one hand. I always used to loop my finger through the teacup handle, which as it turns out, is also improper. That day, I learned way more than I thought there was to know about teas and the proper way to drink them. Now, I am ready to drink all the tea and smile knowing I’m a proper tea-drinking lady. Lavina and I will be taking a #Safe-Tea break often.  

Safe-Tea builds relationships with active seniors in the community. We focus on seniors, their families, caregivers, and community service providers. This is an opportunity to bring quality information to those in our community.
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Want to host a Safe-Tea event? Call us today or visit our website to choose a date and time. Let’s take a #Safe-Tea break together! We’ll even supply the tea. Everything is better with tea, right? 
We are looking for passionate, capable partners who would like to promote and champion Safe-Tea events. The Safe-Tea focuses on building awareness and delivering safety information to seniors in our community. If you would like to support Safe-Tea, please email: safetea@sasksafety.org.
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Everything was going just right until...

8/8/2019

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​Watch the video and let us know what you think her answer was.
Would he have increased the likelihood of getting where he was going with a vehicle inspection before setting out with his grand plan?
What does your pre-trip walkaround or inspection look like? Comment below or share a video. Have a little fun with it. Share your inspection routine (dance) using #JiveB4UDrive

Sometimes things don't go quite as you had planned. A pre-trip vehicle inspection increases the likelihood of getting where you planned to go.
Developing a practice where you walk around your vehicle checking to ensure tires have air in them, that nothing is behind or underneath your vehicle (inclusive of puddles caused by fluid leaks), and that all lights are working before driving is a safe choice.

This habit should be combined with a more thorough weekly and monthly routine multi-point inspection to ensure you are not surprised by a failure or breakdown at the least opportune time. Worse yet, having a vehicle system failure that leads to a traffic incident resulting in injury or death.
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Getting to Know Lavina - This is My Cup of Tea

7/29/2019

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Lavina talks about her on-location video shoot with Amanda at the Vintage Tea Room creating a promotional piece for the Council's Safe-Tea events. The Safe Tea sessions, held at various care homes and community centres, engage residents in conversations about the prevention of fraud and discuss the creation and maintenance of a living environment which will reduce the likelihood of a slip, trip or fall.
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General Fall Prevention Tips

7/26/2019

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Exercise, know your limits, rest often, consider a personal emergency device, and keep important numbers by the phone in case you do need help quickly. Know others?
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Find more free fall prevention resources and senior safety information at http://www.sasksafety.org/resources/seniors-safety
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What are you Wearing?

6/26/2019

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Saskatchewan Safety Council - All Rights Reserved.
445 Hoffer Drive Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada  S4N 6E2
Business Hours (Office currently closed to the public): Monday - Friday; 8:00AM - 4:00PM
Regina (306) 757-3197 | Saskatoon (306) 343-2023 Toll Free: (855) 280-7115 | ssc@sasksafety.org | sitemap
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