This year’s WSCA annual conference includes training on WCB due diligence, the latest on silvicultural worker nutrition and fitness, expert advice on wildfire liability, the state of the B.C. forest sector, crisis management and new and emerging opportunities in the silvicultural sector from forest health to carbon credits.
WSCA 2004 Annual Conference and Trade Show Program
Tuesday, February 3
The first day of the conference and the included training is offered free to all silvicultural contractors, owners, supervisors, first aid attendants, and health and safety program directors. The only requirement is that you pre-register with the WSCA prior to the conference. All WSCA conference registrants are automatically registered for the Tuesday program.
7 am: Registration
9:30 am to 12:30 pm: Forest Industry Safety Association pilot silvicultural leadership training workshop; The Workers Compensation Act, due diligence and silvicultural contracting.
This three hour course will provide an overview of the basic due diligence requirements of the Act, who these provisions apply to, and how silvicultural firms can achieve basic compliance and avoid criminal liability. The training will include special silvicultural sector components introducing the new results-based approach to First Aid requirements which will take effect March 31, 2004. Instructor Rick Cox.
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Pre-season training, fitness, and nutrition for silvicultural workers.
This session which will be led by Dr. Delia Roberts is based on her unique research into silvicultural work and the effects of nutrition, hydration, rest, and fitness on worker productivity, wellness and concentration. Dr. Roberts’ presentation will include handouts on nutrition and the introduction of a special silvicultural worker pre-season training video
4:15 pm to 5:15 pm: Annual General Meeting; old and new business for members.
6:00 pm to 7:30 pm AGM continued: Working dinner; review and consideration of strategic direction of the WSCA.
Wednesday, February 4
8:30 am to 9:00 am: Official opening remarks: John Betts, WSCA Executive Director
9:00 am to 10:00 am: Speaker, Bill Bourgeois, Vice-President, Environment and Government Affairs, LIgnum Ltd.
Topic; “The state of the B.C. forest sector today and the future of forest management in British Columbia.”
10:00 am to 10:45 am: Coffee and trade show
10:45 am to 11:45 am: Speaker, Leslie Habetler, Dyamic Communications Strategies Topic; “When bad things happen to good companies; managing your firm to survive a crisis.”
12 noon to 1:30 pm: Lunch buffet
1:30 pm to 2:30 pm: Speaker, Colin James, father of treeplanter Julia James, 22, who died this year in a treeplanting accident.
Topic: “How can the treeplanting industry prevent further tragedies to young workers and their families?”
2:30 pm to 3:15 pm: Coffee
3:15 pm to 4:15 pm: Speaker, Peter Pringle, Vice President, Jardine Lloyd Thompson
Topic: “Understanding commercial liability insurance coverage and wildfire costs.”
4:15 pm to 5:15 pm: Concurrent Workshops
Workshop Topics
Crisis Management: Making your own crisis response plan; Leslie Habetler
B.C. Timber Sales: Forestry contract tendering practices; Bill Dobbs WCB Risk Assessment procedures: An introduction; Ken Lacroix
5:30 pm to 7:00 pm Hospitatlity suite hosted by Horizon Fiberglass
7:00 pm Banquet: Speaker, the Honourable Mike de Jong Minister of Forests
Thursday February 5
9:00 am to 12:00 noon: Panel and presentations, “Emerging opportunities in forestry.” (session includes coffee break mid morning)
Presenters: Dirk Brinkman, Brinkman and Associates, “Carbon credits and forestry funding.” Bob Clark, B.C. “Beetle Boss”, “Forestry and the mountain pine beetle epedemic.” Bob Gray, R.W. Gray Consulting Ltd, “Prescribed under burning and eco-system restoration.” Don Mortimer, Fireline Consulting, “Fire smart for residences and communities.” Peter Fuglem, MoF Protection Branch, “Private sector fire suppression.”