Nanaimo, B.C. – The co-founder of Duncan-based Alternative Forest Operations Ltd. (AFO) has received an award from the BC Forest Safety Council, in recognition of a long career in the forest industry that has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving safety awareness, expanding safety knowledge, developing safety skills at ground level and building a lasting culture of safety among BC’s forest workers.
On July 21, 2010, a group of recreational boaters spotted a fire in a wooded area near Golden, BC. Because there was a camp fire ban in effect at the time, the boaters reported the fire to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO), who in turn dispatched personnel to investigate. When the government officials arrived at the Khaira campsite where the fire had been spotted, they were greeted by a crew of silviculture workers. Nearly all the workers were black males, and as new Canadians, spoke little or no English. One of the workers was visibly injured and bleeding from the head. All the workers expressed relief and gratitude to the officials for arriving at the camp, and some said that they “hadn’t eaten in two days.”
It is my pleasure to let you know that the Council has published its Progress Report 2010-2011, which provides an overview of the forest industry’s safety efforts last year and a look at what is planned for the immediate future.
Operating logging equipment on steep slopes increases the likelihood of reduced machine stability which can result in an upset or roll-over. These events can result in serious worker injuries or fatalities, significant environmental damage and/or expensive lost production and machine repairs.
Productive, injury-free steep slope mechanical harvesting operations require an integrated approach that draws on the skills of all forestry team members - owners, operational planners and lay out crews, contractors, assessors, supervisors and operators. This package was produced by a technical advisory group consisting of engineers, safety professionals, manufacturers, industry associations, forest professionals, logging managers, contractors, supervisors and operators from across BC.
by Rob Moonen
Improving transportation safety in forest operations
Click for more information or to participate in the VIN program
| Untrained Log Truck Driver | BCFSC |
| Log truck enters block without radio clearance | D Lind Contracting Ltd |
| Log strikes driver at dewrap station | CANFOR |
WorkSafeBC regulation 
