Gear Up for Ag Health and Safety™ program for
post-secondary agricultural students
Gear Up for Ag™ is dedicated to providinghealth and safety education for the future generation of agriculture by engaging with students from agricultural colleges and high schools. Participants in these programs are involved in various aspects of agriculture, such as on-farm activities, trades, agricultural business, extension services, public health, veterinary medicine, and more. This initiative extends the benefits of health and safety in agriculture to families, friends, and co-workers living and working together.
Gear Up for Ag tailors its approach to each student, starting with a pre-survey to personalize training sessions. These sessions deliver tailored agricultural health and safety messages for both work and home, addressing specific hazards and risks. By offering interactive demonstrations, compelling content, and distributing personal protective equipment (PPE), the program equips students with knowledge and tools to enhance safety and health as they enter the workforce. Post-program surveys assist instructors in refining communication, reaching international students, introducing new program elements, and continuously evaluating and enhancing the Gear Up for Health and Safety program.
Based on various factors like time availability and funding, Gear Up for Ag provides three levels of programming. This ranges from a 1.5-hour basic overview with a PPE kit to a three-hour session covering additional agricultural health and safety topics, including a comprehensive PPE kit with respirators and gloves in various sizes. The program establishes strong partnerships with industries to supply students with PPE kits.
The Agricultural Health and Safety Network at the Canadian Centre for Rural and Agricultural Health at the University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian partner with The Ag Health and Safety Alliance on this initiative.
Each Gear Up for Ag session covers a broad spectrum of health and safety topics, such as machinery and ATV safety, agricultural hazards and exposures, protective measures for the senses (vision, hearing, breathing, skin protection), stress management and mental health, safety protocols, emergency plans, livestock handling, zoonotic risks, and more.
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Kendra Ulmer @ Gear Up for Ag Session |
Gear UP for Ag PPE fitting exercise |
Carolyn Sheridan & Kendra Ulmer |
In 2023-2024, our Network delivered the program to students in the agricultural management program of SaskPolytech, and to students in the College of Agriculture at the University of Saskatchewan.
SaskPolytechnic, Moose Jaw, SK. |
Kendra Ulmer at USask AgBio Gear UP for Ag |
Gear UP for Ag sessions in Saskatchewan to date:
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic Moose Jaw Campus
- Saskatchewan Polytechnic Parkland Yorton Campus
- University of Saskatchewan College of Agriculture
- University of Saskatchewan Occupational Health Class