This alert is a summary of 4 Forestry related fatalities that have occurred since September 2011. The latest, which occurred on November 14th in the Northern Vancouver Island area, marks the eighth fatality the forest industry has seen to date this year.
We recommend that all supervisors and workers take the time to review the following summaries and have a conversation about safe work practices and procedures in their operations.
A silviculture worker was manually falling a deciduous tree about one foot in diameter. While falling the tree, it split up the stem, fatally striking the worker.
A certified faller was standing beside a front end loader being used to directionally control the fall of two trees, when the front end loader became unstable during this task and flipped onto its side. The worker was struck by the machine and was fatally crushed upon impact.
A worker was observed working on a log boom preparing the boom for transport. Sometime later a co-worker noticed the workers boom boat at the boom, but could not see the worker. An extensive search for the worker was conducted, however the worker was not found. The worker is missing and presumed drowned.
Near the end of the work day a crew of forestry workers was gathered in a marshalling yard preparing to return to town. While moving a crew vehicle, a worker was fatally struck.
These summaries reflect current information known at the time of this alert and may not accurately represent all accounts of the incidents. As investigations into these incidents are still at an early stage, no final determinations have yet been made as to the cause of the incidents.
As more detail is made available, the Council will provide additional resources and information.
Further information on Risk based assessments may be found at http://www.bcforestsafe.org/RADAR
| File attachments |
|---|
| Fatality Alert.pdf |
