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Fallers given
the message
to be safe

By JOANNA WONG
TREE FALLER Al Lundgren i is a rarity in an industry
that sees at least seven injuties a week in B.C.

Despite having worked for 34 years as a faller in the
coastal logging industry, Lundgren has escaped the ser-
ious accidents that injure between 1,200-1,600 loggers a
year.

“I’ve just had bumps and bruises,” said Lundgren,
smiling.

One might say his i impressive record runs in the fami-
ly - Lundgren was broken in as a faller in 1968 by his
father.

“My Dad told me that I was always supposed to think
before acting,” said Lundgren. “Don’t just charge right
into it. Plan it out.”

Now retired, Lundgren is using his background in
safety education, programming and training to pass on
his experience to other fallers in the new “Fallsafe” pro-
gram developed with the Workers’ Compensation Board.
(WCB).

The 20 Fallsafe seminars held over the past two
months reached almost 1,000 loggers.

Lundgren has given presentations to fallers, bullbuck-
ers, managers and planners from 10 coastal B.C. com-

munities and an equal number in the interior, Terrace '

was visited by Lundgren and the Fallsafe program May 9
and 62 loggers were on hand,

The Fallsafe sessions feature the presentations of nine
WCB officers and experienced fallers who cover sub-

tions, maintaining control and recognizing dangers.

The sessions, which stress the idea of a personal safe-
ty program, were created with the help of a handful of
accident-free veteran fallers like Lundgren.

“We didn’t know we had a personal safety program,”
said Lundgren. “It was just the way we worked,”

Always following safe work procedures and having an
ultra-aware heads up attitude are some of the main ways
that Lundgren feels fallers can recognize dangers like
unstable areas or partially blown over trees.

“Fallers always have to be the best planners,” said
Lundgren. “A faller needs something that works for him
tight at the stump where he’s making life or death deci-
sions.”

Fallsafe is partially the brainchild of WCB Officer

_and former logger Cary White, who saw the need for the
program last spring after investigating a failing accident

that was nearly identical to one that killed his best
friend in 1978,

“It was the same situation for the same reasons,” said
White. “I realized we hadn’t made any interludes in 22

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WCB OFFICER Cary White, left, and veteran {aller Al Lundgren were in Terrace
recently to give a seminar on the importance of being aware of safety when
logging. The forest industry is regarded as one of the more dangerous in the
province and the idea behind the Fatlsafe program |s to reduce the number of

‘injuriss and deaths by emphasizing safety and awareness. The Fallsafe pro-
_gram visited 20 communities, 10 on the coast and 10 in the interior.

White says the program has been very successful.
“Never in my career would I have believed that you

without saying anything,” joked White.
Fallers have perhaps the most hazardous position in
the forestry industry and in 2000, the WCB recorded

“The danger [to fallers] is great and ever present,”

said White. “There are no times or circumstances that
are risk free.”

First aiders compete

REALISTIC ACCIDENT scenes will test northwest first

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 22, 2002 - Al]

Bear alert

NEW MONEY from the provincial government
means B.C.’s Bear Aware program will continue to
operate for another two years.

The $290,000 will come over two years to
maintain the Bear Aware program in Terrace and
throughout the provinee, —

That includes. educational visits to schools, in-
formation campaigns at community events and
speaking lo people about: ways to avoid attracting
bears.

“It’s important now because of the changes
made to the Conservation Officers Service,” says
Bear Aware official John Wieczorek.

Officers are no longer responding to non-lethal
wildlife-human conflicts because of provincial
cuts. That means residents or police may have to
respond to problem bears.

“It's my understanding they will go through a
call centre where they will be given advice as to
how they can deal with the situation,” said Wiec-
zorek about people who call in bear sightings.

“t's my understanding the C.O.8 will continue
ta respond if there is a threat to life or damage to
property,” he said.

Bear Aware’s message on how to prevent wild-
life conflicts in the first place is especially timely
now, he added.

With bears waking up from a long winter’s sleep
they’re on the hunt for food.

Bears, like humans, like convenience and ac-
cessibility ta food sources.

]202 City Centre, Kitimat + 632-7323 |
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

aid teams this Saturday as the North West Loggers As- ;
sociation hosts regional first aid team competitions.
The competitions are open to the public and take
place in the parking lot of the old Co-op building on
Greig.
Competitions begin at 9 a.m.

- iuminated entry, retained accessory power, bodyside cladding graphics, engine immobilizer.

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