Loggers should prepare for fire season ahead Continued from page thirteen public land (i.e. an active logging claim) the licensee present must take responsibility for dispatching equipment and personnel to work on the fire. The company is legally bound to ae the fire at least until the BCFS shows up. When the BCFS shows up that doesn’t necessarily mean the company is off the hook. If, in the operation of the BCFS offi- cial, the fire is under control, the company may still continue to fight fire. If it’s out of control, then the BCES will likely take over. Mr. Dunlop says because the BCFS can’t be everywhere, especial- ly gurine a hot fire season, there is a “special onus on the company.” So it makes sense that if employ- ers have so much responsibility for fire control then they should at least give their people some ade- quate training. “We'll be there to see what the potential for the fire is and that the company does have its people out there fighting the fire,” says Dunlop. He also says that if the company is doing an inadequate job then the BCFS will take it over and when they do so, the Forest Service is going to be in charge of workers. And obviously if the BCFS would eventually be directing workers it would expect them to have some level of safety training. Unfortunately for the forest industry, which is the engine of the province’s economy, the majority of bushworkers have no experience or training whatsoever in fire fighting. The BCFS has over 75 years experi- ence in dealing with loggers. “The Forest Service has tremen- dous respect for loggers,” says Dunlop. He says that loggers are “extremely competent and have “bush sense,” and are “more in tune with bush work.” Mr. Dunlop points out that with a little basic safety training, “you can get a pretty competent individual.” For years the BCFS has assisted the industry in training loggers in the basics. When it come to protection of workers, the BCFS would like to see all loggers trained in one of its course called S-130. The course S-130 (Fundamentals of Fire Fighting) is highly recom- mended to the industry and provid- ed by the BCFS, through its region- a rzices (see accompanying arti- cle). . There’s no accurate to weather prediction for the province’s fire season this year. Historically June is a wet month and if it’s not then a few hot days in July, August or September can dry things out very fast and the high fire risks return. Whether or not most employers will smarten up and prepare for the upcoming season remains to be seen. Certainly workers who are not receiving basic training should push their employers on the issue. It’s better to be prepared than to risk someone’s life. FOREST PROTECTION S-130 (B.C.) FUNDAMENTALS OF FIRE FIGHTING STUDENT WORKBOOK Province of British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Lands e Jim Dunlop, Director of the Fire Protection Branch of the BCFS, says that loggers have ‘bush sense’ and that with a little training, can be pre- pared for the outbreak of fire. Fire fighting basics are available in Ministry course There are lots of materials avail- able for training loggers in prepar- ing to stay alive and well during fire season. So there is no excuse for employers to neglect their legal eee under the Forest ct. Each year the BCFS supplies training material and is AN to send staff out to training sessions or can invite employers or employer groups to district training sessions. “The forest industry has a signifi- cant vested interest in the forests,” said Jim Dunlop. “They have some responsibility in helping us protect it. Mr. Dunlop says the BCFS would at least like all loggers who are like- ly to come in contact with a fire take the BCFS’s S-130 course called Fundamentals of Fire Fighting. Along with instructional training the BCFS has developed a 51 page booklet which can be easily read and understood by working people. The course is broken down into eleven major sub-sections, all designed for easy understanding. Those sections are as follows: als Introduction and Over- view Fire Behaviour Fire Suppressor Mop up and Patrol Pro- cedures Tools and equipment Organization and Lead- ership Fireline Safety Helicopter Safety Emergency Communica- tions Emergency Fire Shelter The Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating Sys- tem The course takes 1 - 2 days to put on with proper instructions. At the end of S-130 workers will have a significant appreciation of Forest Fires and some of the theory and dangers involved. Having S-130 under your belt is a lot better than nothing. Nothing is what most loggers have and that is just not good enough. Training of a fully qualified fire fighter takes considerable time, says Dunlop but the basic S-130 safety training can go along way for ordinary bushworkers. “At least you'll be armed safety wise,” says Dunlop. “You may not Ins POR er LSeorw) nS be the most efficient or well trained fire fighter but you'll certainly have a greater understanding of the nature of forest fire and what may be dangerous.” The course teaches workers that fire is a dynamic entity. In other words it doesn’t stay the same. Fire is either increasing or it is going out. Dunlop says that workers must be aware that fire is deceptive. “A lot of people think that fire will stay the same,” he says. “But you don’t look only at the fire itself, you look at whats around it.” He says that good old fashioned experience is the best way of know- ing whether or not a fire will take off, but that basic S-130 training will give people some defensive capabilities. Forest companies have responsibility for the safety of their workers and must provide proper training for them before they fight dangerous fires Along with the basic S-130, Dunlop recommends that there be ongoing tail gate training for crews. “The problem facing IWA-CANA- DA loggers and those in the non- union sector is that industry’s ‘piece-meal’ ppptoach to training might overlook such things as basics of S-130. Many times loggers are lucky if they are shown where the fire fight- ing equipment is, let alone how to use it or how to handle themselves near an active forest fire. Many employers are living up to their responsibilities and are going beyond S-180 and tailgates talks. However the majority of employers are not living up to their responsi- bilities either legally or morally. | 14/LUMBERWORKER/JUNE, 1992