di mandatory. e Participants to the forum repeatedly said that worker training should be x 2 Logging safety forum proceedings now available The results of the proceeding of the Logging Industry Safety Forum meeting held in B.C. in May and June of last year have been summa- rized and participants in the Forum have been provided details from the Forum’s Steering Committee. Last year the Forums operated by the Ministry of Labour and Consumer Services in cooperation with IWA-CANADA, industry and the Workers Compensation Board, held meetings in Terrace, Chilliwack, Campbell River, Prince George, Merritt, Cranbrook and Kelowna, where employers, work- ers and other interested parties presented their concerns on safety in the logging industry. Three IWA officials sat on the Forum’s 9 member Steering Committee. They are National First Vice-President Neil Menard, Local 1-71 Safety Director Bob Patterson and Local 1-80 Safety Director Ross Davies. Of the total 184 participants involved (excluding Steering Committee Members) 61 were from the IWA. The participants talked about positive and negative factors effecting safety in the logging industry and discussed what they thought would be ways to make the logging industry safer in the next 5 years. In all seven meetings of the forum, seven basic solutions emerged to make the logging work site a safer place. Those solutions are as follows; develop and imple- ment comprehensive training, improve personal and organization- al attitudes and commitment towards safety; improvements of the WCB’s performance, provide more information on safety issues; standardize design and safety con- trols, improve coordination between regulating agendas; improve rela- tions between licensee’s and con- tractors. Some points under each solutions were made as follows: DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENT COM- PREHENSIVE TRAINING - It was generally agreed that training should be mandatory. - training should suit all workers needs whether they are green or experienced. - the training program should be developed by all parties of interest and the instructors should be expe- rienced. - courses should contain certifica- tion and be targeted to the highest risk workers. IMPROVE PERSONAL AND ORGANIZA- TIONAL ATTITUDES AND COMMITMENT TOWARDS SAFETY - there was a consensus that forming partnership on many levels as essential to showing leadership and address changes of attitudes and behaviour. - partnerships are needed between WCB and companies, orga- nized and unorganized labour, licensees and contractors, man- agers and employees, workers and families, loggers and communities. - The Ministry of Forests should consider including WCB/OSH regu- lations in contracts for primary licensees and revoke licenses if operators don’t comply. - The Ministry of Forests should ensure “same playing field” for safe- ty in all logging operations. IMPROVEMENTS OF WCB PERFOR- MANCE Request the Board of Governors to consider: pin -incentives and recognitions for seriously Whether or not the Logging Industry Safety Forum results (see article this page) are taken into account or oe become the wasted efforts of another government road show remain to be seen. But early indications are that the Forum is being taken seriously and safety in the logging industry could benefit in the future. At IWA-CANADA’s National Safety Conference in Victoria, B.C., on June 27, the Union delegates heard a report of the Forum’s find- ings presented by Assistant Deputy Minister of Labour Ron Buchhorn, the Council of Forest Industries’ Bert Hawrysh, and IWA Local 1-71 Safety Director Bob Patterson, all members of the Forum’s Steering Committee. Mr. Buchhorn told the delegates that “we don’t want to be perceived as a travelling road show that went away and nobody ever hears from again.” “If the government can deliver particularly in the regulatory envi- ronment, then it would challenge employers and workers in the industry to also take steps to imple- ment the report,” Buchhorn told the delegates. He said that B.C. Minister of Forests Dan Miller has assured the Forum that any recommendations regarding the Ministry of Forests would be implemented and that Miller will facilitate change in the regulatory framework. “We’re not going to go away, we've got enough invested in this thing now that were going to make sure that some of these recommen- dations are implemented,” said easant Hawrysh of COFI said that fa’ sai Audit coming abs of the logging forums is going to be a very St tant part of (WCB) regulation review.” = * Both Mr. Hawrysh and Brother Patterson sit on the WCB la~ tion Review Committee appointed by the WCB Board of Governors which is currently looking at al Geenpanlerey Health and Safet; regulations. In fact the WC review includes Industrial Health and Safety Regulations, Occupa- tional Environment Regulations and WHMIS, (Workplace Hazard- ous Materials Information System Regulations). ‘he review process bese. with public forums this year between April and May. The entire process will take until some time in 1994 before new regulations are in place. Mr. Hawrysh says the timing to get changes is now, because the reg- ulation review process is under way. Safety Conference delegate Jim Parker from Vancouver Local 1-217 criticized the forum report for being soft on enforcement issues. There are presently many regulations on the books that look good and are simply not enforced. Tony Bennett of Port Alberni, Local 1-85 echoed the fact that there are no written training stan- dards for loggers. He suggested re- gional training facilities which would ensure that safety standards would be met, even in the face of economic pressures. Prince George Local 1-424’s Safety Director Gerry Smith men- tioned the issue of substance abuse and safety which was not dealt with by the Forum. Brother Patterson said that the issue of drug and alcohol abuse came up at all forums. He said there was a reluctance to deal with the issues through regulation and that Employee and Family Assis- tance Programs were held up as the best alternatives. companies developing progressive practices. -incorporating in-house inspec- tors into overall inspection process. -EFAP participation and training programs. -regulation review to address high visibility gear, mandatory training, employers with 20 or less employees, log book and all equip- ment, safety compliance on all phase contractors, notice of project location, minimum standards for dry and sort, steep slope logging, standards for grapple yarder and super snorkle. -all logging operations register with WCB. -increase field service personnel for inspectors and education. Request the WCB’s Chief Executive Officer to consider: -a more friendly Board which will address issues such as more flexible works hours, improved education for and consistent decision makin; by Adjudicators, OSO’s Reha Consultants. -first aid program designed for logging industry, not to replace the Industrial First Aid program but to upgrade it. PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON SAFETY ISSUES Many types of information can be disseminated by posters, pam- phlets, videos and cable TV. The information could be given out at safety committee meetings, tail gate meetings, postings and the worksite meetings of licensees and contractors, and seminars. Types of information can include: -publications to improve pride, address apathy and awareness. -information on “near misses.” -data on whether safety pays to employers in terms of productivity. -information on the positive “showcase operation.” -data on equipment failures. -information on EFAP’s. -statistics on accident rates by type of logging method, type of equip- ment in accidents, and other condi- tions in work site. STANDARDIZE DESIGN AND SAFETY CONTROLS: Logging industry safety could be greatly improved if equipment and machinery designs and safety con- trols were standardized. Recommendations included: -participation in the Canadian Standards Association. -establishment of mandatory standeeds for equipment entering -determination of who has responsibility for developing and enforcing standards. IMPROVE COORDINATION BETWEEN REGULATORY AGENCIES There needs to be more coordina- tion between regulatory agencies as a way of meee the expectations of safe work and practices clear. These agencies included the WCB, Ministry of Forest, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Teens pone and Highways, the RCMP and Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans. IMPROVE RELATIONS BETWEEN LICENSEES AND CONTRACTORS Suggestions included: Better use of contractors by major license hold- ers and the elimination of “fly by nighters” and the joint development of policies roger safety which will include definitions of who is responsible for what, the sharing of information, details on training and incentives for safe performance. nS 10/LUMBERWORKER/AUGUST, 1992