In British Columbia the 2004 Final Report of the Forest Safety Task Force laid out an action plan to eliminate deaths and serious injuries in the province’s forests. The WSCA took immediate action byhelping found the BC Forest Safety Council and subsequently establish the sector’s own BC SAFE Silviculture Program. That program has led in setting competency standards and delivering industry training, sponsoring workplace safety research, and advancing cultural change in the silviculture sector across Western Canada. The sector’s ongoing work on improving its safety performance builds in part on using a human factors-based approach including appreciative inquiry and other innovative processes.
What’s Happening with Workplace Harassment and Violence in Tree Planting and Forestry? (02/07/2020)
Over the past 4 years, the Western Forestry Contractors Association (WFCA) and the BC Safe Forestry Program (BCSFP) have been prioritizing sexual harassment and assault as a key health and safety concern in our industry. In each of the past four years, we have hosted presentations and workshops on this topic at the annual WFCA … Read more
B.C.’s Major Forestry and Harvesting Contractor Associations Request WorkSafeBC Pilot TEAAM and Study Provincial Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Model for all Remote Resource Workers (08/28/2019)
British Columbia’s major harvesting and reforestation contractor associations have told B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains that helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) like the Squamish-based Technical Emergency Advanced Aero Medical (TEAAM) should be the standard of emergency response care for forest and other resource sector workers on remote worksites across the province. Stating their harvest and … Read more
Western Forestry Contractors’ Association Rumour Mill RoundUpDate, Volume 19 Issue 9
Western Forestry Contractors’ Association Rumour Mill RoundUpDate, Volume 19 Issue 9 Western Forestry Contractors’ Association Rumour Mill RoundUpDate 14 June 2019 Volume 19 Issue 9 Warning: With next week’s solstice, days will start becoming shorter. Meanwhile all facts contained in this publication during the coming summer will remain the same length. That constancy is why … Read more
Forest Safety Advocate Advises Contractors to Prepare for Moving Camps in Wildfire Emergencies (05/31/2019)
On May 9th, a small fire broke out near Marmot Lake, approximately 90km west of Quensnel. The fire broke out in a fuel-controlled area near the village of Nazko, less than 500 meters from a silviculture camp hosting more than 50 workers. Fortunately, the fire was quickly contained and controlled by wildfire crews, and the … Read more
Comparitive Injury Claims Report (04/26/2019)
Is there a correlation between payroll and claims paid? Using longitudinal data for the years between 2003 and 2017, we can investigate the relationship between payroll and number of workers on one hand and injury claims as either count per year or amount paid on the other. Read the full report here. Read more
Forest Industry Information Bulletin – Caution Urged When Burning Seedling Containers (03/02/2019)
Risk Assessment – Eye Protection for Tree Planters (03/02/2019)
Emergency Drills for Forestry Operators (03/28/2019)
Emergency drills are a critical part of every health and safety program. The difference between a well-prepared and less-prepared crew can save precious minutes when an injured worker is in desperate need of medical care, and can help workers make better decisions when they face the pressure of helping an injured colleague. Drills must be … Read more
BCFSC Offers a Safety App and Dashboard (01/15/2019)
The BCFSC, in conjunction with the Silviculture Advisory Committee (SAC), has embarked on a new initiative to provide forestry and silviculture employers with an advanced electronic safety reporting system. The new system, available to all members companies at no charge, will make documenting and reporting easier and provide employers with tools for viewing their safety … Read more
