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.
BC SAFE Forestry Bulletin: Showing Up Healthy to Plant (03/30/2021)
Planters are now preparing to travel within the next few weeks for the spring planting season in B.C. and Alberta. Last year the most critical factor in our success was having workers arrive healthy. We need to repeat that in 2021. Here are the best practices to follow. 29 March 2021: Many workers are now … Read more
Industrial Camps Order – Silviculture Briefing Document (7/17/2020)
On July 2nd, the Provincial Health Office released the following bulletin related to practices for industrial camps, including remote silviculture operations in both motels and bush camps. The new order is based on the province moving into Phase 3 of their COVID-19 management plan, and the wider opening of businesses and public activity this summer. … Read more
Bulletin: Continuation of Silviculture Operations During Covid-19 (6/26/20)
Since the beginning of May, the silviculture sector has been operating under communicable disease prevention guidelines issued by the Provincial Health Office (PHO of British Columbia. Although conditions have continued to improve, COVID-19 remains a threat to public health, and there is still no viable treatment or vaccine available. Public activity is now entering Phase-3 … Read more
Covid-19 Public Health Order and Guidline (24/04/2020)
WFCA Rumour Mill RoundUpDate Volume 20 Issue 3
Western Forestry Contractors’ Association Rumor Mill RoundUpDate 13 March, 2020 Volume 20 Issue 3 Warning: All the facts contained in this publication remain resolute and calm in the face of certain adversities as we keep our hands clean and our humour dry. Tree Planting Underway with Hand-Cleaning, Self-Screening, and Good Sleep Although today’s pandemic may … Read more
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