A practical, partner-led approach from a safety consultancy you can call on At Thiessen Safety Consulting, we position ourselves as a trusted partner in safety and compliance—the safety expert team you call when you want a plan that actually works in the field, not just on paper. We build tailored safety programs for your unique context and digitize your records in SiteDocs so supervisors can manage safety in real time—not “after harvest.” The problem, in numbers (and in plain language) Across Canada, agriculture still records preventable, machine-involved deaths—especially tractor rollovers/runovers and entanglements around PTOs and augers. The latest national CAIR review (1990–2020; with a deep dive on 2011–2020) shows machine events remain the dominant mechanisms of fatal harm in the sector. On the Prairies, there’s strong safety support—AgSafe Alberta, FarmSafe Manitoba, and Saskatchewan’s Agricultural Health & Safety Network—but farms tell us their real gap is turning “what we know works” into daily routines during rush seasons. That’s where a hands-on workplace safety consultant is useful.

What works best (and how we implement it for you)

1) Rollover & runover prevention (engineering first).

Verify ROPS (Roll Over Protective Structures) + seatbelts on all eligible tractors and coach usage; mount steps/handholds; prohibit riders; correct slope/ballast limits.
We write the Safe Work Procedure (SWP), mark slope limits in-cab, and spot-check compliance in SiteDocs.

2) Guarding & lockout on power transmission.

Restore PTO master shields, add interlocks where feasible, and implement a lockout/tagout equivalent for auger/baler clean-outs.
You get photo-rich SWPs at point-of-use and an inspection cadence supervisors can actually keep.

3) Grain-handling & confined spaces.

Treat bins and sumps as confined spaces (test, isolate, permit); equip for non-entry rescue first; train attendants and entrants with practical drills. This confined space training is critical.
We align with prairie guidance and set alarms/checklists in SiteDocs to keep the routine tight.

4) Mobile-equipment interaction and visibility.

Define equipment/pedestrian zones, backup alarms, comms protocols, and dusk/dawn lighting.
We add these to daily “Top-2 hazards” toolbox talks during seeding and harvest and measure leading indicators monthly.

5) People systems that hold in busy season.

Short, skills-based modules (tractor stability, PTO, grain-bin awareness, ATV/UTV stability), competency sign-offs, and young/new-worker task matrices.
We right-size for AB/SK/MB contexts and, in Alberta, clarify which OHS provisions apply when you have paid, non-family workers.

Real case study (Prairies): Grain-bin entrapment rescue underscores prevention & readiness

What happened (publicly reported): On February 9, 2024, Irma and Wainwright Fire & Rescue teams responded to an entrapment where a farmer was trapped to the chest in wheat inside a grain bin. Fire crews executed a technical rescue; the individual was safely extracted. Incidents like this highlight how quickly flowing grain can incapacitate someone and why rescue-ready plans and equipment matter.

What farms can take from it:

Prevention beats rescue. Treat bins as confined spaces; use non-entry methods for clogs; isolate energy/flow.
If entry is unavoidable: follow a permit, test atmosphere, use lifelines, and staff an attendant.
Community capability helps—but so does on-farm readiness. CASA and partners are placing grain-rescue tubes and portable augers with trained departments across Saskatchewan, improving survival odds when minutes count.

How we operationalize those lessons for clients:

Write and implement a Grain Handling & Bin Entry program (permit, testing, isolation, lifeline, rescue plan).
Run a 90-minute drill before harvest (bin-entry decision tree; non-entry first; when to call 911).
Inventory bin access/anchors; upgrade ladders and anchor points as needed; log it all in SiteDocs so supervisors can verify in real time.

Case study #2 Operation: Mixed grain farm, 7 employees (seasonal), two yards; AB/SK border area.
Problem: Two close calls in one season—near-rollover on sloped approach and PTO entanglement during an auger jam clear. No formal safety plan; training was verbal. Interventions (8 weeks):

Engineering: ROPS verification and seatbelt retrofits on two tractors; PTO master shields replaced; interlock added to auger hopper; mounted anti-slip steps and high-visibility lighting kit on loader tractor.
Administrative: Built a Farm Safety Plan with 18 SWPs (tractor stability limits, PTO guarding, bin entry, hot work, lone work). Added a 10-minute “Top-2 Hazards” daily talk.
Competency: Practical assessments for tractor/auger operators; confined-space awareness refreshers before harvest; color-coded task permissions for seasonal staff.
Monitoring: Weekly leading-indicator dashboard (seatbelt use %, PTO guard in place %, pre-starts completed, near-misses logged/closed).

Results (first full season):

0 rollovers/runovers; 3 near-misses reported (all closed with corrective actions).
PTO guard compliance sustained at 96% (random spot checks).
Average pre-start completion rose from 40% to 92%.
Supervisors reported >25% reduction in unplanned downtime linked to equipment damage.

Note: This case draws on patterns identified in Canadian surveillance (machine rollovers/runovers/entanglements) and on-farm program models from prairie organizations; specifics are anonymized for privacy.

Prairie-specific supports we plug you into

AgSafe Alberta (FARMERS CARE): tiered training & practical resources you can complete in manageable blocks; >200 producers completed Level 1, with Level 4 added in 2024. We fold completion tracking into your plan.
FarmSafe Manitoba: templates and “building blocks” that reinforce our safety-plan structure and continuous-improvement cadence.
Saskatchewan AHSN + provincial initiatives: workshops, plan training, and the Farm Stress Line—because fatigue and stress management are safety controls, too.

A 12-point, consultant-led checklist (ready to deploy this season)

Confirm ROPS + seatbelts on eligible tractors; track usage rates.
Restore/verify PTO & driveline guarding; add LOTO steps to SWPs.
Post slope/ballast limits in cabs; train stability basics.
Treat bins as confined spaces; prioritize non-entry rescue; drill annually.
Define exclusion zones and backing protocols; upgrade lighting/alarms.
Build young/new-worker task matrices; competency sign-offs, not attendance.
Stand up a Farm Safety Plan with COR/SECOR-aware policies, SWPs, training, inspections, incident/near-miss reporting, and emergency response.
Digitize with SiteDocs for real-time checks, assignments, and proof of due diligence.
Track leading indicators monthly (seatbelt use %, PTO guards in place %, pre-starts completed, near-miss close-outs).
Run pre-seeding/harvest refreshers focused on your top five fatal exposures.
Implement lone-worker check-ins and a fatigue policy for peak weeks.
Schedule an annual fatal-risk audit—short, focused, and tied to measurable outcomes.

How Thiessen Safety Consulting helps (and how it feels to work with us)

Program build-out that meets your operation where it is—small family crews or mixed family/paid staff—everything is tailored to YOUR context. We do not design until we understand.
On-site safety support during busy windows (seeding/harvest) so supervisors aren’t juggling training with uptime.
Digital transformation in SiteDocs so you can prove what you do—and manage it—in minutes a day.
Audits & inspections that come with photos, corrective actions, and realistic timelines.
Emergency response planning that covers bin incidents, equipment fires, weather, and medical response—drilled, not just documented.

Sources

CAIR national fatality reporting (1990–2020; 2011–2020 mechanisms).
Canada Safety Council roundup on rollovers/runovers citing CAIR trends.
AgSafe Alberta (organization & FARMERS CARE; annual report data; Level-4 launch).
FarmSafe Manitoba resources and building blocks for safety plans.

Minimizing Ag & Farm Fatalities on the Prairies