The BC Forest Safety Council and the Western Silvicultural Contractors Association have announced a three year project to reduce injuries and accidents and improve workplace safety and employment practices in the BC silviculture industry. The announcement made at the WSCA annual conference in Prince George in January will include auditing and pre-qualifying firms and training … Read more
A private consultant’s “exploratory study” of silvicultural camps reveals lackings in the quality of life provided for in all six camps surveyed. Is there a larger trend here? And if so should camps be certified to minimum standards to avoid being hazards to health and safety as the study suggests? Read more
The driver of a treeplanting bus that rolled off the road east of Jasper, Alberta on the May long weekend, seriously injuring three of its 17 passengers, has been charged under the Traffic Safety Act of Alberta. Three treeplanters were seriously injured. None of the injuries are life-threatening. Read more
An exploratory study by an independent consulting firm specializing in remote work camps has found British Columbia silviculture camps “extremely poor” in terms of “quality of life” including quality of supervision, food, sleeping accommodation, pride in work, trust in management and trust between workers. Read more
One in 15 treeplanters in British Columbia is likely to injure themselves according to WCB injury claim statistics. Diet and pre-season fitness training has proven to reduce injuries and increase productivity. FISA and Weyerhaeuser have partnered to get this treeplanting health information out to silvicultural workers. fisa backgr.pdf Read more
The father of treeplanter Julia James, 20, who died in a treeplanting vehicle accident last year says contractors need to reexamine their industry culture around safety and the treatment of young workers. Colin James made his comments in a moving address to the WSCA conference in Victoria February 4, 2004. Read more