WSCA Conference:Jim Shepherd says his company is having difficulty making quality lumber out of beetle killed wood in some areas of the province.
He described twisting checks in the logs making it difficult to saw good pieces; something they had not anticipated in some recent mill investments. Shepherd remarked on the importance of recruiting and retaining forestry workers and the significant workforce challenges the industry faces in B.C. He stated that improving safety performance in the forests should not in the long run cost the industry more when weighed against the savings in reduced claims. Shepherd stated that the province would benefit from a more strategic approach to the forest health catastrophe.