Operating motorized equipment is essential for many day-to-day tasks on the farm, but it also presents significant hazards. Common hazards include the potential for collisions with pedestrians, other equipment or objects, as well as injuries from moving parts.

In dairy-related news the last week of February 2026: OSHA fines three companies after six deaths at Colorado dairy farm, the USDA opens its enrollment period for Farmer Bridge Assistance payments, a new U.S.-Indonesia agreement secures access to critical dairy market, and the U.S. dairy community announces the launch of the Latin American Dairy Nutrition Congress.

Under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), every workplace is required to implement a workplace violence and harassment prevention program. This program must adhere to the guidelines outlined in Part III.0.1 of the act, specifically designed to prevent violence and harassment in the workplace. The program must include a clear policy, procedural guidelines, reporting forms and comprehensive training.

If employees are not trained in a language they understand, it is unrealistic to expect them to fully comprehend the safety hazards and risks associated with their job.

Let’s challenge ourselves to rethink how we approach safety on the farm this year. Do you have a dairy farm safety program in place? Is it written down? Do you have regular conversations with your crew about safety? Are your employees getting formal training? Do you make safety a top priority every day?