Cal Improving safety in the workplace A new initiative by the Workers’ Compensation Board aims to improve safety in the workplace. WorkSafe, being offered for the first time in the north, is the result of a part- nership between the WCB and the eastern region of Northwest Communily Col- lege. “This is the first one ever in the Northwest. And we've had a great response from all parties,’’ says Roger Cloutier of Northwest First. Aid training agency, which has contracted wilh NWCC to help deliver the course. Pacific Inland Resources was the site of a two-day seminar attended by 15 people from the plant Safety Committee’ and plant super- visors. That seminar late last year was followed by a day-long session in which 12 super- visors and chargehands took part. - Ken Vander Meulen, a chargehand in the sawmill at Pacific Inland Resources, and a first aider, level three, says for him the course was an excellent refresher. “It makes you more away of not being safe, because the company’s policy is al- ways ‘safety first,”’ he says. ‘‘Anything that isn’t felt to be safe or right is dealt with right away.’ He says people who attend a safety course can act as examples and be 4 resource for other workers. PIR Safety Committee chairman Bob Olsen, also a Cash for If you're studying, or planning to study, forestry or forestry-related subjects at the post-secondary level, here’s a chance win some cash. In a new inilialive in B.C., bursaries will be awarded to secondary and post-secondary students throughout the province. Worth $1,000 each and donated by Forest Renewal B.c. and the province's credit unions, the bursaries level-three first aider, says the course is useful because it allows people to build on their knowledge. ‘Even if you have taken these things before it’s a good thing to become refreshed,’’ says Olsen. ‘‘It reinforces the safety value in your mind.”’ The aim of the course is to assist committee members to reduce occupational in- jury and disease through promoling safety and health and assisting to maintain standards in their work- place. Bob Olsen Course materials prepared by the WCB, so content is consistent, regard- less of location. There are six WorkSafe Education courses, all of which can be tailored to an individual company’s needs. The WorkSafe Education courses may be scheduled over one or two days, or spread over several half: days or evenings. Courses can be specially arranged or customized through the Continuing Ed- ucation department to suit company or — industry’s needs. are CLOSE ESCAPE: In January this logging truck, owned by Kiaus Posselt Logging, caught fire near Burns Lake. RCMP say the driver was westbound when he heard a large bang and suddenly the unit was on fire. He ‘pulled the rig over to the shoulder, where it was quickly engulfed. The driver es- caped without injury. Photo by Brenda Andarson Kispiox Restoring the watershed HAZELTON—Charlie Hillis knows in his heart as well as his head how impor- tant it is to have members of the Kispiox Band restoring the Kispiox watershed, ‘‘We know the area,’’ he said. ‘‘We know the fish and the streams and we have a good relationship with the overall scheme of things. I think, too, when you're working on your traditional forestry students will go to students who write winning essays. They'll go lo one gradual- ing student from each B.C. high school, regional cor- respondence school, inde- pendent school and Band school. As well, each post secondary institution in B.C. will see bursaries awarded to one first-year student, one second-year student, and one third-year student. The essays must be be- Po er ae eo tween 500 and 1,000 words long and should describe an innovative idea related to forest management, Winning essays will be selected by a panel of judges. The deadline for applica- tions is April 3. For more information and application forms contact your local Forestry Renewal B.C. office, or contact your credit union. ; Or call, toll free, 1-800- 663-7867, land, you’re extra careful because it’s your own, You're always trying to en- hance it and make it better, You have this greater con- nection on every level.”’ Members of the Kispiox Band are in the third stage of a multi-year project aimed at repairing and restoring streams in the watershed, With Kispiox funding provided by Forest Renewal BC, the project in- volves skills training for lo- cal residents, as well as as- sessment and rehabilitation for the many damaged tributaries of the Kispiox River. Levels | and 2 of the pro- ject’ involved assessments throughout the watershed. Crews comprised of Kispiox Band members and resi- dents of nearby Hazelton were taught how to examine and assess old logging roads and bridges, slopes, gullies, rivers an streams. They also learned how to write pres- criptions for the work re- quired to bring the areas back to a healthy state. cont'd page 2 FRBC photo HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT: The restoration project is teaching Kisplox Band members and local Hazelton residents how ta examine and assess old logging roads and bridges, gullies, slopes, rivers and streams.