Building on their shared values and a relationship forged over many years, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize their commitment to work together to address key safety issues affecting Ontario farmers, agriculture employees and farm families.

"Safety is a priority and should be everyone's responsibility on a farm," says Keith Currie, OFA President. "This MOU strengthens the long-standing relationship OFA shares with WSPS – formerly Farm Safety Association. Together we'll continue to develop safety materials to raise awareness and help keep our farm communities safe."

As part of the agreement, OFA will continue to sit on the WSPS Agriculture Horticulture Advisory Committee to provide insight and guidance on agricultural matters. OFA will also utilize their Member Service Representative network and regional county federations of agriculture to assist in the distribution of farm safety resources.

In turn, WSPS will leverage its resources, including the Farm Safety Gazette newsletter and rural agricultural volunteers, to disseminate farm safety resources across Ontario.

Together they will increase advocacy and promotion of each other's services, events, products and information, as well as develop new co-branded materials of value to the farming community.

WSPS President Lynn Brownell looks forward to the benefits the MOU will bring. "The Ontario agriculture and farming community is vibrant and diverse, with very specific health and safety needs. This partnership is a fantastic opportunity for us to work together to increase health and safety awareness across the province."

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) is the largest general farm organization in Ontario, representing 37,000 farm families across the province. As a dynamic farmer-led organization based in Guelph, the OFA works to represent and champion the interests of Ontario farmers through government relations, farm policy recommendations, research, lobby efforts, community representation, media relations and more. OFA is the leading advocate for Ontario's farmers and is Ontario's voice of the farmer.

WSPS is the largest health & safety association in Ontario, responsible for more than 167,000 member firms across the agricultural, industrial/manufacturing and service sectors.

source: media release, OFA