Importance Of Emergency Response Planning

Emergency preparedness is important for everyone, but it is particularly important for livestock because of the animals’ size and the requirements needed to shelter and transport them. Disasters can happen anywhere and include barn fires, hazardous material spills, disease outbreaks, extreme weather occurrences, prolonged power outages, gas leaks, truck accidents, and personal injuries.

Pork producers are responsible for the safety and security of their employees and livestock. Writing down an emergency response plan and documenting the actions needed is valuable expercise that will help your prepare for anything. It is imperative that farmers be prepared to protect their livestock, whether by evacuating or by managing the emergency conditions on-farm.

Creating a Site Map 

A site map is a valuable resource during an emergency.

One of the easiest ways to create a site map for your farm is to download aerial photos of your property from Google Maps. Important features of your property can be added digitally or manually to the map, creating a valuable addition to your emergency binder.

Visit our Site Map webpage for more information. 

On-Farm Emergency Response Planning Guide

This manual encourages farmers to take a critical look at their agricultural operation and assess potential risks. It will guide you through creating an individualized emergency response plan for your farm. First edition: 2017. Updated chapters: 2020. Third edition: 2023

Download complete digital version On-Farm Emergency Response Planning Guide 2023 (fillable) or order a hardcopy binder. 

2020 Updated Chapters: Section 8: Major Animal Disease Outbreak and Disaster Planning, Section 9: Animal Activists, Protests and Trespassers, Section 10: Mental Health Information and Resources

On-Farm Emergency Response Planning Guide -  Forms   

Click here to download all the below forms in a single zip folder

• Accident Involving Live Animals Emergency Response Procedure
• After the Emergency Response and Recovery Procedure
• Animal Inventory
• Deadstock Mass Mortalities Emergency Response Procedure
• Disease Emergency Response Procedure
• Emergency Contact Information
• Emergency Contact Signs English
• Emergency Contact Signs Spanish
• Farm Site Map
• Fire Emergency Response Procedure
• Flowing Grain Entrapment Response Procedure
• General Emergency Response Procedure
• Hazardous Material Spills Response Procedure
• Inventory of Hazardous Materials
• Location and Sources of Emergency Equipment and Supplies
• Location of Emergency Water Supplies
• Manure,Silo Gas and Gas Leaks Emergency Response Procedure
• Manure Spills Response Procedure
• Mechanical Breakdown (Transport) Response Procedure
• Personal Injury Emergency Response Procedure
• Preparing for On-Farm Depopulation and Disposal  
• Power Outages Response Procedure
• Self-Assessment Checklist
• Severe Storm Emergency Response Procedure
• Structure Collapse Response Procedure
• Vehicles Machinery and Equipment-Inventory
• Visitor Log

 Download supplemental information (part 1) as zip folder - Part 1 includes: Disease, Biosecurity and Deadstock; Fires; Generators; Handling Livestock

 Download supplemental information (part 2) as zip folder - Part 2 includes: Health and Safety; Environment

Emergency Resource Links

• Farm And Food Care Emergency Response Page 
• Mental Health and Addiction Services in Your Community
• Protect Your Farm
• Biosecurity & Deadstock Bins
• Deadstock Disposal Methods
• AgMaps
• Contacts for Reporting Non-Emergencies to Police

Preventing Barn Fires

• Reducing Barn Fires Guide In the event that a fire does occur, strategies are discussed, using best management practices, to reduce the impact of fire on the property and business.
• Barn Fires - An Increasing Problem for Ontario Farmers Questions and Answers to Barn Fires and Fires in Large Farm Structures

• Prevent farm fires  (OMAFRA)

  • factsheet on the 10 ways to reduce the risk of barn fires
  • video on good housekeeping practices in barns
  • video on safety practices regarding electrical equipment
  • video on safety practices when performing hotworks such as welding, grinding and torching

Unvented Gas Heaters

• Summary of Revised Regulations for Unvented Gas Heaters (List of Engineers)
• Unvented Gas Heaters in Livestock Facilities