Purpose

To address the unique needs of their members, the Federation of BC Woodlot Associations (FBCWA), BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA) and the BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC) have collaborated to establish a committee dedicated to the safety matters of woodlot licencees and community forests agreement holders (tenure holders). This committee is called the Woodlot Licence and Community Forest Agreement Safety Committee.

Goal, Objectives and Approach

The goal is to eliminate injuries and fatalities in community forests and woodlot licences.

The safety committee has the objective of improving safety by identifying safety issues, developing solutions, and supporting projects which are important to the safety, performance and health of people working within woodlots and community forests. In its effort to advance safety, the committee will utilize the successes and existing knowledge of both the tenure holders and the forest industry as a whole.  It is expected that the committee's work will be relevant to all small to medium sized tenure holders within the province.

To encourage safer work environments, the committee will:

• Identify safety issues including those which are geographically unique
• Develope specific solutions to identified safety issues and concerns
• Utilize existing knowledge and past successes within the Woodlot Licence and Community Forest Agreement sectors and the forest industry as a whole
• Effect and implement solutions and
• Measure and monitor improvements.

Key Documents

• Terms of Reference
• Work Plan 

Resources

• Small Tenure Safety - new as of December 4, 2020
• Safety Committee Focus Areas
• Woodlot Licensee/Community Forest Agreement Holder Liability Flow Chart
• Know Your Responsibilities - Seven Part Series
  • Owner Responsibilities
  • Prime Contractor Responsibilities
  • Employer Responsibilities
  • Supervisor Responsibilities
  • Worker Responsibilities
  • Directors and Board Members Responsibilities
  • Wrap Up Article and Responsibilities Chart
• Post Wildfire Operational Safety Bulletin (pdf)

Posters

• Licensee Liabilities Poster (large) | Licensee Liabilities Poster (small)
• Woodlot Safety Responsibilities (large) | Woodlot Safety Responsibilities (small)

Safety Committee Structure

The Safety Committee will consist of:

• Three voting representatives from the Federation of BC Woodlot Associations
• Three voting representatives from the BC Community Forest Association
• One or more non-voting BCFSC staff person to provide support.

The committee members will seek direction from their respective organizations, while the committee will report on its progress quarterly to the Boards of Directors of the FBCWA, BCCFA and to the BCFSC Program Committee.

Members

• Bill Golding
• Dave Gill
• Dave Lasser
• Gary Hanson
• Ken Dodd
• Rick Walters

Staff Support

• Dustin Meierhofer, Director, Transportation and Northern Safety

Founding Members

The founding members of the WLCFASC were:

• Mark Churchill, Woodlot Licencee, Vanderhoof
• Shawn Flynn, Woodlot Owner, Nanoose Bay
• Bill Golding, Smithers Community Forest
• Gary Hanson, Woodlot Licencee, Smithers
• Dave Lasser, Sunshine Coast Community Forest

More Information / Contact Information

For more information or to share any safety concerns that you would like the group to consider, please contact the BC Forest Safety Council toll-free 1-877-741-1060 or email dustin.meierhofer@bcforestsafe.org.