a sn

Logger training course
to mix safety and

skills upgrading

Since receiving endorsement from
the SAFER Council of the IWA Forest
Industry Health Research and Educa-
tion Fund, a pilot initiate called the
Fraser TSA Training Project has been
kicked-off.

A jointly run committee of IWA-
CANADA Local 1-3567 members and
timber license holders, and their con-
tractors in the Fraser Valley Timber
Supply area will soon implement a
skills upgrading and training program
for the logging industry. The project
has received funding for a 18 month
trial program which will see wide-
spread co-operation amongst work-
ers, management and training
organizations.

The training and skills upgrading
will take place during the active log-
ging season and also in the off-season
as the program tries to fit into operat-
ing schedules and availability of par-
ticipants.

Barry King, fourth vice-president of
Local 1-3567, and representatives of
timber license holders and contrac-
tors in the local union’s jurisdiction
first approached the SAFER Council
with an idea of a project in the Fall of
last year. After several meetings the
SAFER Council has decided to go
ahead and approve a maximum of
$150,000 for the trial program.

Today’s logger takes
a lot of pride in
doing the job safely
and protecting the

environment
— Barry King
Local 1-3567

The logging industry is the most
hazardous sector in the province and
each year has the most fatalities and
injuries of any industrial sector. For-
tunately the IWA has been able to put
together the pilot project in an area
where all participants seem to be
keen so far.

"The industry has been very respon-
sive to the initiative," says Brother
King. "They realize that there really is-
n't a large pool of safely skilled work-
ers."

King says the employers participat-
ing want to reduce injuries and acci-
dents to lessen their W.C.B. pre-
miums. This will make the unionized
sector more competitive with the non-
union sector which is notorious for its
high accident and compensation pay-
ment rates.

King also points out that over the
years a lot of workers "are losing
skills in specific areas." (i.e. splicing).
For example a lot of people in posi-
tions that require splicing have never
been taught some necessary splices.

IWA local unions have been frustrat-
ed over the years by the industry's
overall lack of responsibility under

provincial laws. According to W.C.B.'s
industrial health and safety regula-
tions, "every employer shall ensure
the adequate direction and instruction
of workers in the safe performance of
their duties." The regulations also
specify that "every supervisor shall be
responsible for the proper instruction
of workers under his control, and for
ensuring that their work is performed
without due risk."

But even though these words are on
the books, they are often poorly en-
forced or ignored. Many workers in
the logger sector receive little or no
formal training whatsoever.

"If I'm a worker in the bush I want

to know that my employer is going to
ensure that the guys I'm working with
are properly trained," says Brother
King.
The local union official says that
the different parties are greeting the
training program with a great deal of
openness and optimism and that
there's a general consensus that good
things can be accomplished.

"Today's logger has a very profes-
sional approach," says King. "Workers
take a great deal of pride in doing a
thorough job to protect the environ-
ment. They also take pride in being
able to do the job safely."

A steering committee has been
struck consisting of employer repre-
sentatives and IWA members.

The steering committee has hired
on a training co-ordinator who has re-
cently completed an extensive survey
of those working in the unionized
Fraser TSA. From the survey will
come an assessment of how to orga-
nize training sessions, prioritization of
specific training requirements, and
finding proper ways of putting the
training on.

So far the steering committee has
come to the determination that train-
ing programs should fall into the fol-
lowing areas and their sub-areas. A
list is as follows:

YARDING AND LOADINGS (to include)
- skyline logging

- anchor systems

- grapple yarding

- landing/guylines

- rigging

- helicopter logging

- WCB requirements

- environmental issue

° At Cattermole’s timber operation in the Nahatlach Valley Local 1-3567 mem-
ber Jeff Giesler breaks in, doing landingman duties.

FALLING AND BUCKING

- falling practices

- bucking practices

- WCB requirements

- environmental issues

- power saws and protective equip-
ment

GENERAL SKILLS

- power saw use and maintenance
- splicing 5

- back injury prevention

- general safety rules

- first aid

Above are the general areas out-
lined by the steering committee. The
training co-ordinator will, based on
results of the survey, put the training
and skills upgrading into priority or-

ler.

Training workshops and or pro-
grams can be accessed from a number
of sources including the WCB, suppli-
ers and manufacturers, and local insti-
tutions (i.e. colleges).

Most importantly the program will
call upon skilled workers to instruct
other workers. ‘

“If possible and whenever possible
we hope to get our people involved,"
says King. "The specialists are really
our own members."

To help workers train others, some
workers might need help in develop-
ing presentation skills.

An important part of the training
and skills upgrading will be commit-
tee training.

"We also want our joint safety com-
mittee to be trained in proper proce-
dures of accident investigations, near
miss investigations, and workplace in-
spectors," says Brother King. "In the
logging sector a lot of people get on
committees and don't understand
what function they're supposed to
perform."

e If program runs correctly, more workers should get a chance to break in on equipment.

6/LUMBERWORKER/DECEMBER, 1992