Agricultural Health and Safety Network celebrates 10 years

Posted March 13, 1998


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 12, 1998
98-03-07-ME

Celebrating 10 years at the Agricultural
Health and Safety Network

The Agricultural Health and Safety Network celebrated its
10th anniversary on March 12, 1998 with a luncheon at the
spring SARM conference at the Centre of the Arts in Regina.
The Agricultural Health and Safety Network provides
occupational health and safety information and services to
22,000 farming families in 93 RMs in Saskatchewan.

The menu of educational resources and prevention
programs delivered to Network members has grown over
the years through the financial support of membership fees
used to generate additional income through grant
programs. During the last 10 years, the menu of resources
has grown to include numerous, previously unavailable,
farming specific publications on issues of importance to
health and safety on the farm, including The Network News
delivered to the homes of every farm family member.
Prevention programs have been provided to farmers at or
near the farm gate to assist them to identify and prevent
farm work related illness and injury. These include the
Respiratory Health Program for Farmers, the Hearing
Conservation Program and the Farm Response Course.
Resources have been developed in the areas of respiratory
health, pesticide safety, farm injury prevention and rural
stress.

The Agricultural Health and Safety Network is a cooperative
effort between the Centre for Agricultural Medicine and
Saskatchewan farmers with the support of the
Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM).
The Network has also established cooperative working
relationships with Sask Ag and Food, Sask Labour,
Saskatchewan Safety Council, Saskatchewan
Alliance for Agricultural Health and Safety, Saskatchewan
Women?s Agricultural Network, North Valley Health District,
and Midwest District Health.

Initially the Network governance was provided by Dr.
James Dosman and Dr. Helen McDuffie, Centre for
Agricultural Medicine, and Mr. Ike Thiessen, past president,
SARM. Since 1990, Network members have provided
increased direction through the annual meetings held during
the annual SARM convention. In 1993, the first Municipal
Steering committee was elected from member councils to
advise Network staff and oversee the structure, function
and programs of the Network. Mr. Brooklyn Anderson, R.M.
of Indian Head #156, was the first chair of the steering
committee. Current chair and representative for Division 5
is Mrs. Sherry Clavelle, R.M. of Aberdeen #373.

Moving into its second decade, the Agricultural Health and
Safety Network faces new challenges and new
opportunities as rural Saskatchewan in the last 10 years
has been experiencing economic and political changes
including depopulation and changes in health care delivery.

For more information please contact:

Connie Lupescu
Centre for Agricultural Medicine
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6647