If Bill 35 passes, companies will be required to have meaningful worker and employer participation in incident investigations (as opposed to workers just reading the report).

For the full Bill 35, 2015 – Workers Compensation Act, Amendment No. 2 – please see https://www.leg.bc.ca/Pages/BCLASS-Legacy.aspx#%2Fcontent%2Fdata%2520-%2520ldp%2FPages%2F40th4th%2F1st_read%2Fgov35-1.htm which passed first reading in the legislature on October 8, 2015. It is anticipated that the Bill will become effective in the first quarter of 2016.

The changes are proposed as follows: (to go into section 174 of the Act):(1.1) For the purposes of subsection (1), the participation of the employer or a representative of the employer and a worker representative includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:(a) viewing the scene of the incident with the

persons carrying out the investigation;(b) providing advice to the persons carrying out

the investigation respecting the methods used to carry out the investigation, the scope of the investigation, or any other aspect of the investigation;

(c) other activities, as prescribed by the Board.

The Bill is the BC government’s response to the

juries’ recommendations from the inquests into the 2012 Babine Forest Products Mill (Burns Lake) and Lakeland Mill (Prince George) explosions which killed four men and injured many more. The objective is to improve safety in the workplace.

From the Babine inquest recommendations, item no. 18, which is a recommendation to WorkSafeBC, states:

“Develop an industry-specific checklist for Officers to follow at worksite inspection. Include in the checklist reviews of Joint Occupational health and Safety Committee meeting minutes, crew safety meeting minutes, near miss reports, incident reports, investigation reports and receipt of recent relevant hazard alerts.” The background to this recommendation was as follows: “Evidence showed that there was no uniform format for inspection content at high risk workplaces. In turn there was no means for effectively comparing successive inspection findings or findings across different milling operations.”

And recommendation No. 30:Amend Section 176(2) of the Workers Compensation Act to ensure that a copy of the full incident investigation report is provided to the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee or the worker representative. Add in a new section as follows:

Happy Holidays!Everyone at the BC Forest Safety Council would like to wish you and yours a safe and happy holiday season!

Our offices will be open:Monday Dec 21Tuesday Dec 22Wednesday Dec 23Thursday Dec 24Tuesday Dec 29Wednesday Dec 30Thursday Dec 31

Our offices will be closed:Friday Dec 25Monday Dec 28 (in lieu of Boxing Day)Friday Jan 1

Lost and not forgottenAt this time of year, we also think about co-workers we have lost to workplace incidents. We reflect on the especially sad and difficult times their families face over the holidays. You are in our thoughts. May we all find peace and return after the holidays even more determined to do everything we can to ensure we all go home safe at the end of the day.

1-877-741-1060www.bcforesafe.orginfo@bcforestsafe.org

FORESTSAFETY

December 2015issue 6 / vol. 2

Industry

Fatalities and Injuries

SAFE Companies

Falling

Training

Transportation

Health and Wellness

Kid’s Corner

Welcome to the December edition of Forest

Safety News, covering news about safety

topics in forestry. This is YOUR safety

newsletter. We look forward to your input

and feedback! Email the editor at editor@

bcforestsafe.org or call 1-877-741-1060.

What’s Inside:

Safety is Good Business

News2 - 345 - 78 - 910 - 1111 - 1314 - 1516

Bill 35 – what does it mean?

Reynold Hert (left), the BC Forest Safety Council’s CEO, presented the 2015 annual safety awards at the Vancouver Island Safety Conference (VISC) in Nanaimo in October this year. The recipients were: Ally Gibson (Carey White Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award), Angelika Posselt (Most Valuable Player Award in harvesting) and Kirk Nagy (Most Valuable Player Award in manufacturing). Please see page 2 for a link to a 12-page wrap-up report on the 2015 VISC.

Continued on page 7...

More than 400 attend 10th Annual VISC

The 2015 Vancouver Island Safety Conference, held October 3 in Nanaimo, drew more than 400 attendees including professionals, fallers, engineers, log truck drivers, mill workers, managers, supervisors, tree planters, joint occupational health and safety representatives, first aiders, shake and shingle workers, heli-loggers and others representing the breadth and depth of our forest harvesting and manufacturing industries. With a full day of presentations and networking breaks, there was valuable information for everyone to take away to co-workers back in the woods or mills. This year’s conference theme was Driving Forward – 10 Years of safety evolution “past, present, future” and included presentations on driving safety and how to build excellent, top performing teams.

For a wrap-up of the event, please see: http://www.bcforestsafe.org/files/VISC2015WrapUp.pdf. Special thanks to all the sponsors who make this free annual event possible: London Drugs, TimberWest, Dorman Group, Lemare Group, Strategic Natural Resource Consultants, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, United Steelworkers, Interfor, Western Forest Products, The Truck Loggers Association, Mid Island Safety Consulting, Island Fibre, Coastland Wood Industries, Island Timberlands, Wolf Lake Logging, TG Hawthornthwaite Logging, Seaspray Log Scaling, Univar Environmental Sciences, Island Pacific Logging, Onsite Engineering, BC Timber Sales, Dorman Contracting, Laurand Enterprises, Nootka Sound Timber, Fred Morris & Sons Selective Harvesting, Safety Advisory Foundation for Education & Research, Hancock Forest Management, BRI Security, Arbutus Grove Nursery, Elco Contractors, Ryka Industries, Star Lake Contracting, Don Hopkins Consulting, Aljaq Contracting, Fall River Logging, Khowutzun Forest Services, WorkSafeBC and the BC Forest Safety Council.

2 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS

Effective Critical Incident Response can prevent Post Traumatic Stress DisorderPrevention is king, always, but after

a serious incident or fatality in the workplace, mental first aid response is as important as physical first aid response.

Counsellors talk about the 30-day after period of experiencing a traumatic/critical incident, which is generally the time period assigned to “Critical Incident Stress”, either as a co-worker on the site, as the first aid attendant, supervisor or other colleague(s), with ripple effects working outwards to colleagues/family members at the home-office/office and further afield. With support, it is usual to work through the issues including anger and grief, and find a sense of peace and acceptance. However, if symptoms (which can include distraction, irritability, mood swings, agitation, sleep interruptions, crying or weepy, mind-fog, etc.) continue for more than 30 days then it is important to be assessed by a professional as then one is at increased risk of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Additional influencing factors depend on the individual. Is this a first critical incident a person has experienced? The first close colleague/friend who has died on the job?

How people, who are affected by Critical Incident Stress, react is also influenced by how they see the incident handled -- by authorities, their peers, supervisors, managers, owners and industry. Best practice responses provide best possible outcomes for all parties.

View this short video (9 minutes) of Bruce Youngren, Executive Director, Vancouver Island Counselling, explaining the importance of understanding the need for support: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDOv1plWv8k

If you are a contractor or company that has an established Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in place, mental and emotional first aid services can be as quick as a phone call away. An EAP provides

resources and counsellors to facilitate one on one or group support on site/in camp/on the phone/at home. All services are confidential, supportive, and provided where, when and how you and your crew (and family members) might need it most.

If you belong to an association like the TLA and subscribe to their benefits program, support may be available, and union members may also have access to support via their membership. Licensees have programs too for all their workers and access for contractors, as may be agreed upon at the time of the contract.

Any employer or worker directly involved in a workplace incident may choose to use a Critical Incident Response program provided and funded directly by WorkSafeBC (at no additional cost to the worker or the employer) which provides up to six hours of free counselling from a counsellor nearest the affected worker or group of workers. The first hour is an initial session, followed by up to five additional hours as/if required. To ensure workers get the support they need as soon as possible, any worker directly affected by a workplace incident should call a toll free pager number: 1-888-922-3700. The number is manned between 9 am and 11 pm, seven days a week. Calls made after 11 p.m. will be returned after 9 a.m. the next morning and after explaining the workplace incident they are affected by, they will be connected to a counsellor directly in their community (or as near as possible if there is no counselling available in the immediate area). Please see http://www.worksafebc.com/claims/assets/CIRprogram.pdf for more information. WorkSafeBC’s only criteria to access this service is that it must relate to a workplace incident, be accessed within three weeks of the incident, and the affected worker(s) must not already be accessing counselling support from another party to ensure there is no duplication of service from two different service providers.

Industry News

SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS 3

WorkSafeBC launches new ERP video and tools

Whistleblower protectionIn BC we have regulatory protection in place

that ensures that no employer may penalize or otherwise punish a worker for raising safety concerns or refusing unsafe work.

For more information on the process and to see cases investigated since 2010 see: http://worksafebc.com/workers/improving_health_and_safety_at_work/discriminatory_action_complaints/default.asp

And a Q&A: http://worksafebc.com/publications/health_and_safety/by_topic/assets/pdf/FAQs_about_discriminatory_action.pdf

In all jurisdictions that protect workers, it is understood that workers play a crucial role in ensuring that their workplaces are safe, but also recognize that employees would be less likely to participate in safety or health activities, or to report hazardous conditions to their employer or to a regulator (like WorkSafeBC) if they feared their employer would fire them or otherwise retaliate against them. For that reason, regulations prohibit discrimination against employees for exercising their rights under the law. Many previously full-time employees have become independent contractors, often working under the coordination of a prime contractor. While the prime contractor is responsible for coordinating the health and safety activities on a site, the owner (in many cases the licensee) still has a responsibility for maintaining the workplace in a safe condition and providing the prime contractor with the information that they need to identify and control the hazards at that site.

Concern has been expressed by some contractors who feel “squeezed” and then wrestle with their own consciences for

“going along” with not complaining about an unnecessary risk or practice because they perceive they will not be given another contract if they speak up. While we all know that good managers and operators treat all parties equally and fairly and never compromise anyone’s safety, regrettably, it only takes one or two bad apples to make contractors untrusting or feel all the safety has been downloaded onto their shoulders.

So what to do? If you are a licensee, regularly ask all your contractors and sub-contractors for their honest opinions on what works, what doesn’t, what could be done better. Building mutually rewarding, trusted, safe partnerships start with building open honest communication channels, along paths of mutual respect. Ask the questions. Really listen to the answers. If you are a contractor, and are having challenges working with the owner or subcontractor to manage the hazards, consider chatting with other contractors, a contractor association and/or the BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC). A safety advisor or director of SAFE Companies can provide you with an objective sounding board, discuss what your options are and share ideas on how best to proceed, as well as remind you of your rights and responsibilities to both yourself and your own employees.

Sometimes a licensee or landowner has no idea that their intended and required practices are not implemented 100% of the time. Once known they successfully work to correct the situation – a win-win for them and their contractors.

Email editor@bcforestsafe.org if you’d like to share your experience, or highlight something that we should explore more to support better safety outcomes.

This video helps workers understand the challenges of emergency response in forestry operations, and the importance of knowing your plan and practising it. The video shows a realistic forestry medical evacuation and the delays created by remote worksites, steep terrain, and poor weather.

Additional resources:

20-page discussion guide to go with the video (WARNING: large PDF at 5.59 MB, don’t open it on your phone) http://www.worksafebc.com/publications/health_and_safety/by_topic/assets/pdf/BK156.pdf?_ga=1.113136002.749810290.1444935277

4-page document containing 13 tips on ERPs (1.5 MB PDF): http://www2.worksafebc.com/PDFs/forestry/12%20ERP%20Tips-Sep18.pdf

http://www2.worksafebc.com/Publications/Multimedia/Videos.asp?ReportID=37728

4 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS

Until claims are finalized by WorkSafeBC, there is the potential for changes on classifications between direct or associated fatalities, and/or potentially previously unknown incidents. Preliminary information, however, as at November 12, 2015, is as follows.

There were six direct forest harvesting fatalities in 2015, year to date:• February 11, 2015: Log truck driver in heavy

snow rear ended another log truck on the Alaska Highway (at Mile 64).

• April 6, 2015: Pickup truck driver at side of resource road struck by another truck near Smithers.

• July 11, 2015: Faller falling a tree was struck by another tree on the Northern BC Coast.

• July 24, 2015: Faller struck by tree dislodged by log line loader (super snorkel) near Holberg.

• July 27, 2015: Skidder operator out of cab was struck by a log while working near Revelstoke.

• October 14, 2015: A worker was fatally injured when the heavy duty truck he was working under rolled over him in the Ladysmith area, Vancouver Island.

There were three associated forest harvesting fatalities in 2015, year to date:• January 6, 2015: A certified faller died

while falling a tree that barberchaired on a residential property in Chilliwack.

• May 23, 2015: Low bed truck driver delivering equipment was struck by a piece of tree while pulling fallen trees off a road near Prince George.

• July 5, 2015: Faller fighting wildfire was struck by tree in falling incident near Sechelt.

There was one sawmill manufacturing fatality in 2015, year to date:• September 15, 2015: A 28-year-old worker

died after he was pinned between a large stacker and the sort deck on which he was working, at Creston.

There was one natural causes fatality in October, 2015:• October 14, 2015: a worker building a

logging road near Cherryville was found collapsed near his bulldozer. Preliminary information is that the worker suffered a suspected heart attack.

Fatalities and Injuries

These summaries of selected work-related incidents recently reported to WorkSafeBC may help you to prevent similar incidents.

HARVESTINGInjury: Partial amputation of one fingerCore Activity: General trucking / Sawmill / Integrated forest management Location: Northern B.C. Date of Incident: 2015-Aug A worker was injured while lowering stakes on a log transport trailer in a sawmill log yard.

Injury Type: Serious burnsCore Activity: Log haulingLocation: Interior B.C.Date of Incident: 2015-AugA log transport truck experienced mechanical difficulties while driving up a steep hill on a main highway. The truck quit running, and the driver got out to investigate the cause. While he was investigating, a flash fire occurred, apparently after he removed the diesel tank fuel cap. The driver sustained serious burns.

Injury Type: FatalCore Activity: Cable or hi-lead loggingLocation: Interior B.C.Date of Incident: 2015-JulA skidder operator had exited a skidder on the uphill side of the machine. Above him, a runaway log about 5 inches in diameter and 40 feet long was dislodged during a cable yarding operation from a harvest area with a 75 percent slope. The log struck and fatally injured the worker.

MANUFACTURINGInjury: Undetermined back injury Core Activity: Heavy equipment, machinery, or parts manufacture or installation (greater than 500 pounds) / Sawmill Location: Lower Mainland Date of Incident: 2015-Aug While preparing a sawmill for replacement of a log singulator, a worker fell about 10 feet from an I-beam into a conveyor chute.

Injury Type: Close callCore Activity: SawmillLocation: Lower MainlandDate of Incident: 2015-AugDuring sawmill operations, a fire occurred in the sawdust/shavings bunker. No injuries occurred as a result of the fire.

To see more incidents, please see WorkSafeBC’s website:http://www2.worksafebc.com/Publications/Incidents-Item. asp?reportid-36759&appSession=590390047205792

Recent incidents reported to WorkSafeBC

WSBC Accepted Harvesting Fatality Claims

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

1999

18

21

2725

1412

34

1210

19

5 5

8

11 10

6**

2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015

AVERAGE 21.6

AVERAGE 7.7

AVERAGE 13.7

Please note: *There are four fatalities the BC Forest Safety Council is aware of that occurred in 2014. WorkSafeBC tracks fatalities by the year in which they accept the claim. WorkSafeBC has accepted three of the four fatalities from 2014 in 2014, and is reviewing the fourth which occurred later in the year and will likely be accepted in 2015. WorkSafeBC has also accepted four fatalities from prior years during 2014. The BCFSC uses the WorkSafeBC data of accepted claims for trends although it may not specifically indicate current year fatalities, it is the only long term data base for comparative purposes.**As at November 12, 2015, it is anticipated that 6 fatalities will be Accepted Harvest Fatality Claims that occurred in 2015. This is preliminary information.

7*

SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS 5

All BASE SAFE companies will be completing the BASE V4 audit version going forward, effective January 1, 2016.

Positive feedback from BASE Companies that used BASE V4 in 2015 pilotBASE-sized SAFE Companies that opted to test drive the new BASE V4 audit in 2015 ahead of the 2016 industry-wide implementation have recently completed an online survey to give their feedback and experiences in using V4.

The good news is, overall the survey results show a much higher level of satisfaction with V4 than V3 -- from company representatives, external and internal auditors, alike. Fully 80% of respondents felt the BASE 4 audit would help industry further reduce incidents and prevent fatalities; while 88% agreed that the BASE V4 audit will lead to better safety performance by the companies being audited. Further all respondents either preferred Version 4 over Version 3 (67%) or had no preference between the two (33%). None preferred Version 3 over Version 4.

The survey was conducted in October, 2015.

Detailed survey results and feedbackA total of 12 completed online surveys were received from company representatives, internal and external auditors.

88% of respondents agreed that the BASE 4 audit recommendations lead to better safety performance for the company, rather than doing something just for the audit, while 12% said they would rather see a requirement for scoring 100% as anything less, lessens the impact and effectiveness of a recommendation.

Things that respondents liked about the BASE 4 audit included: putting recommendations into a Corrective Action Log (CAL) because it is very useful; the auto scoring; more of a focus on the work rather than the paperwork; more scoring opportunity based on results and worker knowledge than just paperwork; the layout for the elements; it was easy to do and very straightforward; the scoring was easy to figure out and for the most part on point; and in-person interviews and observations versus paperwork.

Things that respondents disliked about the BASE 4 audit: the numbering/ordering of the questions; wish recommendations could be

automatically inputted; 50% pass requirement on each question; unfriendly template with errors.

Concerns ahead of doing new version of the audit44% of respondents said they had concerns going into their first BASE 4 audit; these concerns included: going into the unknown; hard to follow question order and derive some interview questions; worried about how much more time or other factors that might impact companies such as lower scores or audit failure, resulting in higher costs.

After completing their first BASE 4 audit, 67% of respondents still had concerns while 33% said they did not. These concerns included being the same ones as before the audit; and concerns that audits will fail resulting in Limited Scope Audits (LSAs); some auditors felt they had more work to do with a lot of reading to ensure all information had been

SAFE Companies

V4 audits compulsory for all BASE companies in 2016

gathered and answered; very stringent scoring requirements; audit template is not very user friendly and auto calculation is too cumbersome and did not work; as each question is required to have a 50% pass there are a couple of key questions that if you receive less than 90% you cannot pass the audit, which seems to lend an unnatural importance to those few questions.

(Editor’s note: the functionality issue that was identified above has been resolved – auditors must not remove pages or sections from the audit as that will disable the auto calculation function.)

Evenly split on score weighting50% of respondents said they agreed that every question was essential for good safety performance and therefore should require achieving 50% in every question, while 50% said no. Those that agreed said requiring 50% eliminates the issue of a company choosing not to complete an essential safety activity and still passing the audit; holds companies accountable for all areas of safety, requiring a higher standard of compliance; how can one say a company is acting in a safe manner if they are not at least behaving at 50%; it’s a good baseline – if processes are only working at 50% there is too much room for error which results in personal injury.

50% of respondents don’t support requiring 50% because some questions regarding worker answers may be that the workers have forgotten information (but it is supported by documentation); could potentially limit a company’s ability to bid for work if the nature of the work is seasonal, i.e. if a company goes into a 90 day LSA then has no work till next season, they could potentially lose SAFE Certification and Certificate of Recognition (COR); too severe a penalty for one question; and it can be almost impossible to achieve due to the scoring structure; and not high enough of a score – safe companies should need to score higher than 50%.

50% of respondents felt the BASE 4 audit scores were appropriate while 50% did not because some questions deserved far more marks than what they are allotted; a lot of research is required to answer some questions worth only 2 points; should be less all or nothing scores; and one respondent said that overall he did support the scoring but that there were some questions such as D1.1 that could sideline the whole audit even if, overall, things were being done well.

BASE V4 better than BASE V3Respondents said that the BASE V4 audit was a better audit than BASE 3 or predecessor audits, but that some questions were almost repetitive; brings to light deficiencies that are actually important to our company; gives direction for improvement; helps provide performance goals for future audits; shifting more emphasis on worker knowledge

Continued on page 6...

6 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS

SAFE Companiesand observations from documentation, meaning safety policies are given “feet” in the workplace not just “voice”; keeps company focused throughout the year; draws attention to areas where we are not performing at the level we could be; being observation/interview based, the auditor can observe human behavior within the various company processes and make meaningful recommendations. In total 67% of respondents preferred BASE V4 to BASE V3, 33% had no preference and none said they preferred Version 3 over Version 4.

More reasons to like BASE V4More reasons to like the BASE V4 included: fewer questions, shortness to complete, interviews and observation based; encourages a better safety attitude in workers; BASE V4 requires managers to communicate the expectations to workers more than BASE 3 did. That being said, it looks like it isn’t intended to be safety at all costs either, so managers should like the more balanced approach.

Too hard, too soft, just right?63% of respondents said the degree of difficulty in BASE 4 was just right; 25% thought it was too hard and 12% were unsure. No-one thought it was too easy.

In their comments, respondents said in some ways it was easier than V3, in other ways, harder. The observation was also made that the automatic choice is always to go with the version you know, especially if you’re passing it – because people just don’t like change even if it is for the better.

While some found it faster to do than V3, one found it “very time consuming as questions times are longer not shorter,” and another felt it was “about the same degree of difficulty” and another said it was “not an exact fit” for their company.

On what they felt about the degree of difficulty for the auditor doing V4, 50% of respondents said “just right”, 37% said too difficult and 13% were unsure. They made the observations that for some auditors it could be much more difficult especially the write up and coming up with a decent set of questions to ask workers who give one word answers. Another observed that it made the auditor work harder but that might be just because it is a new tool and another added that the auditor needed to ensure all questions within the questions were answered too.

Would you recommend other companies use the BASE V4 audit and why?75% of respondents said yes; 13% said no and 12% didn’t provide an answer. Respondents

said that why they would recommend BASE 4 audits was because it showcases deficiencies in a more productive manner; as with all audits, it gives guidance for continual improvement; it is more efficient – a focus on performance rather than paperwork; it is easy to use and fairly accurate.

As part of continuous improvement what, if anything, would you want to see in a future BASE V5 audit?Respondents provided the following suggestions to consider for a future audit version:• reorder questions, but wait till more

companies have had experience with V4• make documentation requirements more

clear to remove room for misinterpretation by company and auditor

• make sure all pertinent info within the audit question required is highlighted

• remove 50% in each question criteria• continue to increase weighting scores

towards positive results. Maybe eventually get to the 50% score on any question = fail

• review the pointing of questions with the 50% element

Advice for anyone doing BASE 4 for the first timeThose that have already successfully completed a BASE V4 audit had the following advice for anyone doing the BASE 4 audit for the first time:• get some advice on the difficult or new

questions.• read through everything thoroughly before

beginning the audit.• read each question thoroughly to ensure all

information has been received.• make sure you have your emergency drills

done and documented prior to your audit.• before interviewing, be very prepared

by familiarizing yourself with company processes.

• use the workbooks provided but make sure that you read the audit question and the guidelines too so that there is no misinterpretation of the real intent of the question being asked in the audit.

Thank youSAFE Companies thanks all survey respondents and other BASE V4 pilot companies and auditors for their time and expertise in sharing their experiences. Together, through continuous improvement, we shape better safety outcomes and help reduce fatalities and serious incidents.

Background on how BASE4 came aboutThe seeds for V4 were sown in early 2013, when at the request of industry, a major renewal of the prequalification system was

started by industry-led Steering and Working Committees. The general objectives were to ensure the standard:• is owned by industry• is relevant and practical • meets the needs of licensees and

contractors and• clearly sets the cascading responsibility for

safety in the workplace by all parties.

Key principles considered in guiding the redesign • The system has uniformity and consistency

across industry • The system has an audit that is not entirely paper-

based or paper-driven. It needs to be proactive – not primarily weighted on paper work

• The system needs to be owned by and evolve with industry. Council’s role is to support and administer the system as required by industry

• There needs to be consequences for failures • There should be a mechanism for continual

improvement • The redesign should not be primarily driven

by prime contractor requirements and the system should focus on having an effective safety management system in place and evaluating the contractor’s ability to assign/assume the role of prime.

Following a discussion paper in November 2013, input was accepted from all industry participants regarding the proposed changes. This was followed by pilot audits being conducted with companies throughout 2014 and based on feedback from the companies and auditors, adjustments were made, with the final BASE 4 standard introduced in April 2015. Between May and December 2015, more than 50 companies have used BASE 4 in 2015. Training sessions with external and internal auditors were offered throughout the province, free-of-charge, through 2015 to help prepare auditors for the change over from V3 to V4.

Questions about BASE 4BASE V4 audit forms and tools may be found here: http://www.bcforestsafe.org/safe_companies/large_companies/resources.html

Screenshot of a section of the audit web page: http://www.bcforestsafe.org/safe_companies/large_companies/resources.html, where all the new BASE V4 materials are available to view and download.

If you have any questions or comments, please call SAFE Companies, toll free 1-877-741-1060, or email safeco@bcforestsafe.org.

Continued from page 5..

(c) “either, (i) provide the report to the joint

committee or worker health and safety representative, as applicable, or

(ii) if there is no joint committee or worker health and safety representative, strategically post the report at the workplace.” The background to the recommendation is: “Evidence revealed workers were not informed about results of investigation reports. The knowledge of such reports can serve as training information and safety awareness.”

And, at the Lakeland inquest, recommendation no. 9 states: “Clarify the meaning of the term “participation” in section 174 of the Workers’ Compensation act to ensure full and meaningful participation in the investigative process by both the employer and the worker

representative.” The presiding coroner’s comment was: “The inquest heard that access to the Lakeland mill site by the employer’s representative and a worker representative was denied or limited, hampering the employer’s ability to comply with section 175 of the Workers Compensation Act.”

All employers and Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees need to ensure that they update their investigation processes accordingly to ensure compliance in early 2016.

If you have a question or concern about this change or how best to implement, please contact the BC Forest Safety Council and speak with a safety advisor at 1-877-741-1060 or email safeco@bcforestsafe.org.

Continued from page 1...

SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS 7

The Manufacturing Advisory Group (MAG) and the BC Forest Safety Council have submitted a letter in response to the jury recommendations in the inquests into the deaths of four men at two mill explosions in 2012.

To view the full letter, please see: http://www.bcforestsafe.org/files/rep_ResponseToInquestFindings.pdf

To view the inquest findings: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners/schedule/index.htm and to view the feedback received by the BC Coroners Service, please see: http://www.pssg.gov.bc.ca/coroners/schedule/archive/2015/docs/little-roche-response.pdf

The countdown begins to the busiest audit processing time at the BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC). It’s December which means staff will receive between 500 and 800 audits by email, website upload, mail, courier or in-person delivery.

Here are some tips if you have to meet a December deadline for filing an audit to retain SAFE Certification:

- Don’t’ leave it to the last minute!

- Work through all the questions twice to make sure they are all complete.

- Check all the required paperwork is included too.

- If you are not sure about something, call us first before you send it in (toll free: 1-877-741-1060 or email safeco@bcforestsafe.org ). It’s much faster to get it complete and correct before you send it in than having to do subsequent follow-up deliveries/submissions after the initial one.

- Keep calm. It will be done quicker than you think.

MAG and BCFSC respond to inquest jury recommendations

Don’t forget: get your audit in on time!

The Board of the BC Forest Safety Council is pleased to announce that Kenneth (Ken) Higginbotham has accepted the role as Chair of the organization, effective October 1, 2015.

Ken is no stranger to safety or the forest industry having served numerous forestry and wood manufacturing entities throughout his noteworthy career. Ken most recently has been the facilitator for two key industry safety groups – the Manufacturing Advisory Group (MAG) and the Coast Harvesting Advisory Group (CHAG).

One of Ken’s first orders of business in his new role, after orientation, will be to lead the search committee to hire a new CEO to replace Reynold Hert, who is leaving the Council at the end of March, 2016.

Reynold has been with the organization for more than six years, in roles as CEO, Board Chair, and most recently Chair and CEO. Both he and the rest of the Board felt it was timely to separate the roles going forward.

“I am pleased to be handing over the Chair reins to Ken. Ken has a solid reputation with manufacturing and harvesting and is a pleasure to work with,” said Reynold.

Looking forward to new roleKen said he was looking forward to taking on this role and the new challenges that will come with it. “Industry has made significant progress on safety to date. I look forward to

working with the Board to support initiatives as identified by industry for continuous safety improvements from planting to harvesting and milling,” said Ken. “As an industry, we are not competitors when it comes to safety. We all share one focus: to ensure every forestry worker goes home safe at the end of each shift.”

Ken holds a MS in Forestry and a Ph.D. in Botany (Ecology) and has been both an academic (assistant and associate professorships) in Botany and Forestry at two universities, one in the US and one in Canada, before becoming the Director of Research, Alberta Forest Service; Assistant Deputy Minister of Forests, Alberta Government; and then Vice President Forestry at Canfor Corporation from 1995-2012, focused largely on government relations. Since then, Ken has consulted, including providing management services for a sawmill safety organization, MAG, made up of 10 companies and facilitation of CHAG, a coastal logging safety organization, consisting of five of the largest coastal companies.

A dual Canadian-US citizen, Ken was born in Denver, Colorado and is currently a resident of Surrey, BC. When he is not consulting and championing safety, he can be found enjoying the great outdoors with his wife, five children and 13 grandchildren.

Ken Higginbotham joins BC Forest Safety Council Board as Chair

8 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS

Fallers’ opinions are in high demand to help inform the future of the industry. There are two research questionnaires in development that will be wrapped up early in 2016.

FTAC questionnaire The widest ranging information gathering questionnaire is being compiled by the Falling Technical Advisory Committee (FTAC), supported administratively by the BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC). Every aspect of falling and safety including site preparation, planning, supervision, training, inspections, regulations, the faller standard, qualified assistance, ERP, WorkSafeBC, BCFSC, unsafe work, etc. is up for consideration and comment.

The input fallers provide will help shape numerous future FTAC projects. It is the first faller survey of its kind that covers all aspects of fallers’ day to day experiences. The questionnaire provides fallers with the opportunity to tell it like it is. Collectively all the data gathered will help shape better safety outcomes.

The more fallers that complete the FTAC survey the more accurate the information will be on what is really happening. The data will have an impact on shaping the future of falling in BC.

The questionnaire will be mailed to certified fallers (about 2,500 fallers in total). A pre-paid, return envelope will be included to make the questionnaire completion and return process as quick and easy as possible. FTAC has opted to go the paper-route to help encourage more participants who most often are at remote locations and don’t have reliable access to the internet. An online version will be made available too for any faller who would prefer to complete the survey online.

The BCFSC’s falling program manager, Peter Sprout, welcomed the outreach to fallers for their valuable opinions. “Fallers have to keep their heads in the game and fall tree after tree safely. They know better than anyone else what makes them safe, unsafe, what distracts them, what works and what doesn’t. I really encourage every faller to participate and share their views.”

CHAG working committee on faller safety related to road debris and right of wayA second questionnaire survey is being developed by a Coast Harvesting Advisory Group working committee. This survey will focus on faller safety related to road debris

FTAC and CHAG have two separate information gathering projects underway

Falling

End to end review of falling standardsIndustry has identified

a need to update the Faller standard, Qualified Supervisor/Trainer (QS/T) standard and Certified Faller Supervisor (CFS) standard. Working groups of seasoned, experienced career fallers have been gathering at the BC Forest Safety Council offices over the past several weeks to develop updated Faller, Certified Falling Supervisor and Qualified Supervisor/Trainer standards and review how qualifications, competencies and certifications all work together. WorkSafeBC, Forestry, Wildfire, Silviculture, Single Stem/Windfirming, Oil & Gas, Parks and other chainsaw users have been included in the process.

The Falling Technical Advisory Committee (FTAC) and the Coast Harvesting Advisory Group (CHAG) identified the need to develop standards for industry occupations and to review existing standards – such as the faller standard – to ensure fallers are qualified and meet industry’s needs.

A standard writer, experienced in developing competency-based occupational standards in other industries, is working with industry to develop the new standards. The Faller,

Qualified Supervisor/Trainer (QS/T) and Certified Faller Supervisor (CFS) standards are all under revision with a single focus and objective: to ensure improved safety outcomes based on consistent, competency requirements.

For the falling standards, well respected, qualified fallers, CFSs, QS/Ts and

and right of way. Fallers as well as engineers, road construction crews, blasters, planners and others will be surveyed to determine what best practice is, to ensure fallers are not put in harms’ way through the actions of phases before they arrive on the block.

Results of each of the surveys will be shared upon completion as well as analysis of the

findings. Forest Safety News will provide links to the final reports as they are made available.

If you do not receive an FTAC questionnaire by the middle of January, please email faller@bcforestsafe.org or call toll-free 1-877-741-1060. All completed surveys should be back at the BCFSC by the end of January for data input and analysis.

(Left to right) Mark Turnbull, CUA, Jim Bassett, Coastal Forestry Faller, Richard Banner, Enform help develop modularized faller standards that allow worker mobility.

(Left to right) Interior Forestry Faller Creole Dufour, Enform QS/T John Courchesne, Coastal Forestry Faller Greg Clayton and Wildfire Faller Chris Spronken, part of the expert team involved in modularizing faller standards.

SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS 9

Cross industry input on faller standards

New booklet in development on key faller safety tips

Latest New Faller Training WorkSafeBC have been involved in the process. WorkSafeBC has also provided partial funding for the creation of the revised faller certification standard.

The first step in the process has been occupational analysis – describing the occupation. The second step is developing and drafting the standard and assessment tools. The third step is testing these tools out in the woods and then revising them as required. The fourth step is an ongoing check in with all industry parties and other industry stakeholders to review and explore the proposed new standards and ensure that everyone is in agreement that the revised standard meets the objective of keeping fallers safe while working in industry. A final draft will be reviewed by the industry steering committee, FTAC, CHAG, the Oil/Gas and Wildfires Services groups, the program committee and board of the BC Forest Safety Council as well as the Faller Standard Advisory Committee (FSAC), which in turn will recommend to WorkSafeBC that it adopt the updated faller and QS/T standards as acceptable to the Board to align with regulation. WorkSafeBC will be informed of the progress for the CFS standard as it is industry best practice and doesn’t require WorkSafeBC approval.

The new standards will also allow for modularization of content that will better suit the needs of different users of the standard for different industries, which will allow for better, safer, worker mobility between industries e.g. oil and gas to wildfire and industry production falling.

The development and implementation of the new standards are the key workplan items for the falling and training departments at the BC Forest Safety Council, with completion dates of September and December 2016 respectively for the Faller Certification standard and the QS/T standard; and, the Certified Faller Supervisor standard.

Training courses will also be revised accordingly in 2016 to meet the new standard requirements, as well as revised quality assurance processes.

The Faller Standard Advisory Committee (FSAC), comprised of administrators approved by WorkSafeBC, has the goal to ensure that the Faller Standard meets the needs of each industry sector and allows for worker mobility between the sectors. The FSAC was recently restructured. Previously FSAC was chaired and driven by WorkSafeBC with industry participants. WorkSafeBC has approved that the FSAC will be industry-driven going forward to better ensure industry’s needs are met. Newly appointed, independent chair, Geoff Stevens, will lead the transition. FSAC members include the BC Forest Safety Council representing fallers in the BC forestry industry, Enform representing fallers in the oil and gas industry in Canada, and BC Wildfire Services representing fallers within the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. WorkSafeBC will continue to have representation on the committee.

The falling department will be researching and publishing a new safety information tool on key faller safety tips. The finished booklet will follow a similar size and format of the Fit to Log booklets, and contain the most valuable tips that incident-free fallers over 30, 35, 40 and 45 year careers believe to be what has kept them safe and out of the bite.

Copies will be distributed with card renewals in 2016. An electronic format will also be available on the BC Forest Safety Council website.

One of the latest New Faller Training sessions was held in Sointula from Sept 14 to Oct 17, 2015. All training is done one-to-one, that is one instructor dedicated to one faller for the duration of the training. (From left to right) Paul McCaffrey, trainer; new faller trainees, Shane Burma and Patrick Bush; and trainer, John Jacobsen.

10 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS

Program Standards for Yarding Occupations

Resources you can use

At the request and direction of industry, led by the Coast Harvesting Advisory Group (CHAG), the BC Forest Safety Council has supported completing all competency standards and assessment tools for six yarding occupations: chokerperson, rigging slinger, landing/utility person, hook tender, tower operator and grapple yarder operator.

The guiding principle for the project was to meet industry’s need for a “tool box” to support the training and assessment of yarding workers.

The project team compiled occupational analysis charts for the six yarding jobs. From these charts, 31 units of competency were developed reflecting the scope of activities across the six occupations. Field tests of the draft standards are underway – taking place at several operations on the coast and in the interior. Subject to user feedback, the process and documentation will be finalized and posted on the BCFSC website by the end of March 2016. Coaching for supervisors on how to use the standards on-the-job will be scheduled in the first half of 2016. These sessions will be included in the annual training calendar so please check here starting in January 2016: http://www.bcforestsafe.org/fscapps/calendar/calendar.php

The three main individuals and companies that made this work possible are: Stu Smith (contractor), Ron Boe (Western), and Sam Stanko (Island Timberlands).

Industry is required to be able to demonstrate that every operator is qualified to operate a piece of equipment in a manner that is defensible as/if required by regulators or investigating authorities should something go wrong. “In a worst case it is about defense; but in a best case it is about ensuring that every worker knows best practice in doing his/her work; has the knowledge, training and skill to safety and productively operate a piece of equipment at all times,” said Russel Robertson, Director, Programs and Training, BCFSC.

BC Forest Safety Council resource links:

Access to all safety resource sections: http://www.bcforestsafe.org/safety_info.html

Resource Packages: http://www.bcforestsafe.org/safety_info/resource_packages.html

YouTube channel videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/BCForestSafety

Posters and stickers order form: http://www.bcforestsafe.org/node/2485

SAFER links:The Safety Advisory Foundation for Education and Research (SAFER) http://www.safer.ca/ was created more than 27 years ago through broad negotiations between the IWA Canada (now United Steelworkers) and FIR on the coast and the IFLRA in the southern interior for the 1988-1991 master collective agreements in both regions. The organization continues to be jointly managed by USW, FIR, and the IFLRA where the industry and the union enjoy equal representation. SAFER’s mission is to assist workers and employers in the BC forest industry to improve incident prevention and create a healthy environment, both on and off the job.

Some of the tools SAFER provides includes helpful video and other tailgate tools. Please see: https://www.youtube.com/user/SAFERCouncil/videos and http://www.safer.ca/links.htm#talks.

TrainingFeedback on recent courses

Calling high school students to submit safety video entries about impairment

Advanced Incident Investigation Training: September 25, 2015Participants indicated that course expectations were met and they would recommend the course to others. Their overall trainer rating ranged from very good to excellent.

Strengths of the course were identified as content, presentation and level of detail shared as well as the experience of the trainer.

Feedback from Basic Incident Investigation Training: September 24, 2015Course feedback ranged from very good to excellent, with two participants indicating that the course had exceeded their expectations with all participants saying they would recommend the course to others.

Strengths of the course included content and delivery; interactive participation; all content based on real life examples.

Other strengths included giving insight on identifying causes and linking to corrective actions; and learning about WorkSafeBC investigation requirements; and learning to always wait for the right answer – give a witness time.

BASE 4 Upgrade Training: October 2, 2015Feedback ranged from very good to excellent, with all participants indicating that course expectations were met and that they would recommend the course to others.

Impairment in the workplace is the theme of the 2016 WorkSafeBC Student Safety Video Contest for students in BC in grades 8 to 12. Entrants need to create a two-minute original video that explores the topic of impairment in the workplace, and what employers and workers can do to address it.

As we all know, impairment at work affects everyone. Fatigue, alcohol, and drugs are all forms of impairment that can affect workplace safety.

Video submissions are due by April 1, 2016. A total of $10,000 in prize money is available for students and schools. One entry will also advance to a national youth video content to compete for additional prizes and bragging rights.

To help inspire a future of safe and healthy young workers, share this information with students and teachers you might know in your communities. For details, rules, and entry forms, please see www.worksafebc.com/studentvideocontest or email questions to yworker@worksafebc.com.

SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS 11

UpcomingTraining

Transportation

• More than 50% reduction in log truck rollovers on public roads

• Consistently downward tracking of log truck incidents on all roads

Thanks to everyone’s efforts across industry – most importantly log truck drivers – log truck rollovers are down significantly. You are making our roads safer, reducing injuries and lost time, as well as preventing damage to trucks and roads. Keep up the good work!

“Over two years, we have seen a more than 50% reduction in rollovers on public roads,” said Dustin Meierhofer, Director Transportation and Northern Safety, BC Forest Safety Council. “This improvement has been achieved through an industry-wide response – from safety groups to licensees, contractors, subcontractors and individual owner operators – the log truck drivers.”

He said that a big contributing factor was the attendance of more than 2,400 drivers, loader men and supervisors to Anatomy of a Rollover, Standard of Care and other safety seminars in 2014 and 2015. “It was a big push by industry to get as many people through those sessions to speak frankly about rollover elements and the factors that have the most influence on both positive and negative safety outcomes involving driving and logging trucks in particular.”

“Log haulers and Industry should feel really proud of what they have achieved to date. We need to stay focused on doing the basics well and getting every load and driver safely to their destination,” he said.

The Trucking Advisory Group (TAG), the Log Truck Technical Advisory Committee (LTTAC) and other industry groups will continue to work on different and emerging aspects of log truck safety – including training standards for new log truck drivers – to ensure that every new log truck driver benefits from learning the details of how to safely operate a log truck under variable road, weather and operational conditions.

A big shout out to all log truck drivers! YOU are making a difference in safety

Please note: The above data is compiled by transportation safety, BC Forest Safety Council as an indicator of industry data. It is highly probable that there are additional rollovers that are not included in this summary. Current data sources include: media reports, reports to WorkSafeBC, Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement (CVSE), and reports to the BC Forest Safety Council. Public Roads include highways, community and municipal road ways. Forestry Roads include all resource roads, on-block roads and mill sites.

If you would like to see how a training course can meet your organization’s needs, please let us know. We are committed to working with you to find the right training solution. We may be able to tailor a program to your specific needs and deliver it in a way that is most convenient for your operations.

Small Employer OHS and Small Employer OHS refresher course:

December 3 KamloopsDecember 3 LangleyDecember 10 Prince George

Forest Supervisor Training:

Module 1: Due Diligence

Module 2: Communications

Module 3. Leadership

December 1 Vernon (Module 1)December 2 Vernon (Module 2)December 3 Vernon (Module 3)

IOO & IOO Refresher:

December 5 LangleyDecember 12 Prince GeorgeDecember 19 Teleconference

Basic Incident InvestigationDecember 10 Vernon

Advanced Incident InvestigationDecember 11 Vernon

As the 2016 training calendar was in the process of being finalized at the time of going to print, please check our website regularly for updates. See bcforestsafe.org/fscapps/calendar/calendar.php. Check back often as course dates do change too. Email training@bcforestsafe.org or call toll-free 1-877-741-1060 for more information.

Log Truck Rollovers in BC2013 - 2015 (YTD)

All RolloversPublic RoadsForestry RoadsUnknown

2013

51

28

14

85

1

17

7

39

8

4 4

2014 2015

Local resource road safety committees have worked with the MFLNRO and Industry Canada to implement these changes. To learn more about resource road radio

communications protocols and to view maps, please see: www.for.gov.bc.ca/hth/engineering/Road_Radio_Project.htm or contact Industry Canada at 1-800-667-3780.

12 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS

Transportation

Whether you are on the coast or in the interior, a number of forestry operators are dependent on water transportation to take workers and product to and from worksites. An incident earlier this year reminds all of us that we need to keep water transportation safety top of mind.

In an earlier edition of Forest Safety News, we shared information about the sinking of a barge carrying tree planters to a worksite off Vancouver Island, and that the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) was investigating. According to information on the TSB website, the investigation is nearing completion, as it is in the third and final phase of the investigation – namely the report phase – into the sinking of the self-propelled barge, Lasqueti Daughters, on March 14, 2015. The vessel took on water and sank in Georgia Strait with 17 people on board. The master, owner and reforestation workers abandoned the vessel prior to its sinking. The vessel was later salvaged and towed to Campbell River.

A confidential draft report was approved by the TSB and sent to persons and organizations directly concerned by the report. These parties have had the opportunity to review and comment on the content of the report. The TSB is now considering any feedback received before approving the final report, which will be released to the public.

The first two phases in the investigation were the field phase, where a team of investigators examined the occurrence site and wreckage, interviewed witnesses and collected pertinent information; and the examination and analysis phase, where pertinent records were reviewed, components of the wreckage tested, sequence of events determined and safety deficiencies identified.

The final report is expected to be released in the coming weeks. See http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/enquetes-investigations/marine/2015/m15p0035/m15p0035.asp for more information.

Water transportation can put forestry workers at risk

Government, industry and radio providers should be pleased that the complaints about the new resource road radio channel implementations across the province have been very few and far between. In fact, it seems overwhelmingly, everyone has a good story to tell, once they got their gear properly set by certified radio technicians.

The latest roll-out that started on November 16, 2015 was for the Chilliwack Natural Resource District, the most densely populated forest district in the province and covering approximately 1.4 million hectares.

All forest service and other road permit road users must have the new channels programmed into their mobile radios by certified radio technicians. New signs posted on local resource roads will advise which radio channels to use and provide the communication protocols, including the road name and required calling intervals. Vehicle operators using mobile radios to communicate their location and direction of travel must use the posted radio channels and call protocols.

All resource road users should exercise additional caution during the transition. Drivers are reminded that forest service roads are radio-assisted, not radio- controlled, and to always drive safely according to the road and weather conditions.

Channel 13 came with a twistThere was one twist in the rollout. Resource Road Radio Channel 13 became “squelching noise” for heavy duty trucks equipped with a particular navigation system, namely the Kenworth Nautilus navigation system. The navigation system created interference with Channel 13 resulting in the “noise”. The contractor affected solved the issue by installing an on/off switch in his trucks, allowing the navigation system to be shut off while the trucks are operating on resource roads. Safety advisors, however, are still hearing of issues out in the field.

Kenworth, Industry Canada and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) are aware of the issue and investigations are continuing.

If you have had an experience of interference on any of the new channels, please let MFLNRO and/or the BC Forest Safety Council know so that any fixes, if needed, may be shared with others. Call 1-877-741-1060 or email transport@bcforestsafe.org.

Overall smooth roll-out of new resource road radio channels

(Left) The barge, Lasqueti Daughters, sinks earlier this year in Georgia Strait; and (right) a Transportation Safety Board investigator photographs and examines the barge after it was towed into Campbell River. (Photos courtesy of the Transportation Safety Board.)

SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS 13

The Trucking Advisory Group and the BC Forest Safety Council has released a new video encouraging all forestry workers – and log truck drivers in particular – to wear their seat belts at all times.

The almost eight minute video features log truck driver, Adrian Sunduk, as he shares his story of why how a seat belt saved his life. Before attending an Anatomy of a Rollover session, he had never worn a seat belt off highway because he had always planned to jump out of the truck if ever he got into a situation … See what convinced him that he was wrong and how wearing a seat belt saved his life. Watch the video: www.bcforestsafe.org/seatbelt. Share it with your crews. Seat belts really do save lives.

Your chances of surviving a motor vehicle accident increase dramatically if you are wearing your seat belt properly because seat belts hold you in place upon impact. Occupants in the vehicle who are not properly restrained can cause significant injury to themselves. Where there is more than one occupant in the vehicle, fatalities or serious injuries can result to or by any unrestrained occupant(s) including hitting and killing the driver during a collision. In BC, ICBC data (2003) shows that vehicle occupants who do not wear seat belts are 2.4 times more likely to die during an incident as a result of ejection as compared to those not being ejected; and, are 13 times

Wear your seatbelt!

Adrian Sunduk, a life-time log hauler has an important message to share: a seat belt saved his life in a logging truck rollover. Seat belts save lives.

more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a crash.

The charts above from the Government of Canada show the percentage of driver and passenger fatalities and serious injuries where victims were not using seat belts (2009-2013); and the percentage of fatalities and serious injuries by type

of road user – driver, passenger, etc. The statistics include all reported incidents (on and off highway). Serious injuries are defined by need to be admitted to hospital for treatment or observation. More stats can be found here: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/motorvehiclesafety/resources-researchstats-menu-847.htm

If there were a way to bottle it, we’d be able to reverse the rapidly rising healthcare costs and improve everything about life quality from sleep to brain function to sex. Sound unbelievable? For once these claims are true, the catch is that the cure requires you to work up a sweat. Yep, we are talking about that ugly, nagging thing that lives at the bottom of your list – exercise. And yet, as much as we think physical activity is painful, we all know someone who seems to actually enjoy exercise. So what are the benefits of physical activity and how can you turn it from a chore into something to look forward to?

Most powerful wellness benefits come from exerciseA program of regular physical activity will lower your all mortality risk by as much as 50%. It doesn’t matter what disease you are worried about, or what bad habits you might have. Exercise will help to improve your current health status and prevent you from developing a disease in the future. Diabetes, kidney failure, heart disease, hypertension and stroke, cancer, obesity, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s, low back pain, depression, osteoarthritis, and lung disease, the list goes on and on. Exercise can even delay many of the changes that we attribute to aging. There is no other known treatment that even comes close to being as powerful as plain old physical activity.

As little as one hour a week of walking = benefitsIt gets better. As little as one hour of walking per week can reduce the risk of all-cause mortality. The type of exercise that you choose doesn’t matter that much. You don’t need any fancy equipment or a high level of skill. And the more you exercise, the greater the benefit. Physical activity that would burn 1000 kcal per week (approximately 5 hours of easy walking, 3 hours of chopping wood or raking leaves, 2 hours of hockey, weight lifting or swimming, 1 hour of running or uphill mountain biking) will reduce your risk of dying from any cause by 20-30%. Double

that amount of exercise and extend your life span by 1-2 years. Just 30 minutes per day of moderately vigorous activity will protect you against diabetes, breast and colon cancer. All that’s essential is that you work up a sweat. Breathe deeply, get your heart rate up and MOVE!

Breaking down the barriersSo with all these powerful benefits why is it that only 49% of Canadians get any regular physical activity? The reasons that I hear cited most often are:

1. I don’t have time. When you head to the block at 2:00 am and don’t get home till 5:00 the following evening it’s pretty hard to muster up the energy to put on your sweatpants let alone go to the gym. And then there is the one kid that has soccer practice, the other that has a music lesson, and the chores that you didn’t get done last night because you were too tired.

Solution: The truth of the matter is that you don’t have time not to exercise. The metabolic clock is ticking. Every day that you don’t get out of your machine, up from your desk or off the couch takes you closer to that one-way trip to missing out on seeing your kids/grandkids grow up. Exercise doesn’t have to take time away from your family, get them to walk with you, kick a ball around the back yard (and run after it), or give everyone a shovel and clear your walk by hand instead of using the snow-blower. Once you get out the door and get started you’ll find that not only do you feel better, your family will have fun sharing these activities. Light to moderate exercise doesn’t deplete your energy level, it invigorates you, makes you feel more alert and when you do go to bed, improves the quality of your sleep so that you wake up more rested – it makes your energy level into a renewable resource!

It also turns out that three 10-minute sessions of exercise are as beneficial as one 30-minute session. So instead of standing around waiting for the morning meeting, do a few

calisthenics (e.g. lunges, jumping jacks, sit ups, crunches, push ups, etc.) to warm up. When you tighten your wrappers walk around the truck five times and check the tires at the same time. Add in a few jumping jacks, squats and standing push-ups to protect your shoulders and you’ve a great little “exercise” session in your work boots. If you’re an equipment operator it makes sense to do a walk around, so every couple of hours get out of your machine and walk a bit while swinging your arms to get the blood circulating. Side bends and a few lunge walks will loosen up your back and activate your core. If you work in an office walk the long way round when you visit the washroom, and take the stairs rather than the elevator. Get an office challenge going around lunchtime physical activity, a walking group, bike ride or yoga session.

2. It hurts too much. When you aren’t used to exercising a great deal of the “pain” is just getting used to the sensations of breathing deeply and using your muscles. While pain is a very important warning sign there is a big difference between injury/destructive pain and the discomfort of under used muscles.

Solution: Learn to tell the difference; are you truly lacking in oxygen or are your breathing muscles as out of shape as the rest of you? About 15% of the energy cost of exercise is due to the work of muscles that inflate your lungs. Slow your breathing down and count 2 seconds to inhale, 2 to exhale, to make sure you empty and fill your lungs fully. Once you get used to it, you won’t feel as out of breath; muscle pain during easy exercise is most often just the tissue waking up. Shake out your arms, and think about relaxing into the movement. If you need to – stop and gently stretch the angry muscle, rub or shake it out to get some blood into the area and tell the nerves to relax; muscle pain the next day that peaks at 48 hours is caused by muscle rebuilding. It hurts like heck but it’s a sign you are getting stronger and after a couple of weight lifting sessions it shouldn’t happen

Health and WellnessThe new miracle cure, guaranteed to increase your lifespan by yearsBy Dr. Delia Roberts

14 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS

Please note: If you haven’t been exercising regularly it’s important to check with your physician before beginning a program of physical activity to make sure that you are not at risk for cardiovascular disease or have any other health concerns. Neither the author nor the sponsoring organizations are responsible for any illness or injury that may result from this program, if you chose to follow it you do so entirely at your own risk. If you feel faint or experience pain while doing these exercises seek medical attention immediately.

any longer. A good cool down, hot bath and gentle stretching will help to ease the stiffness and soreness.

3. It’s embarrassing. The culture of your workplace might not support the idea of lacing up your running shoes, the other guys are sure to laugh if they see you skipping rope at the landing. It’s been so long since you’ve ridden a bike or kicked a ball you’ve forgotten how. What if your kid or grandkid is better at it than you are?

Solution: You can hide in the crowd or you can be a leader of positive change. Besides, you’ll be the one laughing when you’ve dropped 20 lbs and feel great. And if your kid or grandkid gets to show you how to score a goal they will be as happy as you’ll ever see them! Remember the joy of a child riding a bike for the first time? The freedom, the possibilities! Find an activity that makes you feel like a kid, or something that you can share with friends. Walk or jog with a buddy and the miles will be gone before you know it. If you can’t give up your favorite TV shows then ride a stationary bike, walk the treadmill, or elliptical while watching. Take up tennis or basketball again. It won’t take long before you start to feel better and your old skills come back. In the end, the embarrassment of not being good at exercise is far less than the embarrassment of lying in a hospital bed with your butt showing through the gap in the gown. Which scenario do you want for your family? Your life?

If your work doesn’t get you up and moving, there is no question that it is hard to fit physical activity into your day. But every step you take has payback, in health, happiness and energy. As tired as you feel heading out that door, you’ll feel better, think better and sleep better after getting in your exercise. So give it a try, the only thing you have to lose is the extra weight around your belly and the likelihood of developing a nasty disease.

Have any health and wellness questions for Dr. Roberts for a future column? Email editor@bcforestsafe.org or call toll-free at 1-877-741-1060.

Soon we are going to be bombarded with questions about New Year’s resolutions, which if made, never last beyond the middle of January for many of us. Various research sources indicate about 40% of people make New Year’s resolutions each year and overall 8% fully commit to them and achieve them over 6 months or longer. The older you get though, the shorter the staying power, on average.

So what do people make resolutions about most of the time? Turns out self-improvement, education, health, weight-loss, lifestyle and relationships, are highly ranked according to: http://www.statisticbrain.com/new-years-resolution-statistics/.

The top 10 resolutions in 2015 were: 1. Lose weight2. Get organized3. Spend less, save more4. Enjoy life to the fullest5. Stay fit and healthy6. Learn something exciting7. Quit smoking8. Help others9. Fall in love10. Spend more time with family

Whether you are considering making a health and wellness resolution or not, it’s always good to be reminded that we really can do a lot of good by just trying one thing – one small thing, because doing one small thing is a lot bigger than doing nothing!

It doesn’t matter where you are on the health and fitness spectrum, doing one thing can make a difference in improving quality of life, health and wellness. Here’s a quick summary of five different “one thing” ideas you might like to consider. Remember, you can come up with your own “one thing” best suited to your personal health/wellness wish too.

One thing: Take your dinner plate and replace it with a smaller one to help you eat smaller portions if you want to reduce calorie intake without much effort. Take one cookie not two, etc.

One thing: In your mind, divide your dinner plate into four sections. “MyPlate” is the current

nutrition guide published by the United States Department of Agriculture to help people see how best to combine food groups and in what proportion: Learn more here: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/MyPlate

One thing: Walk every day and increase the distance over time, at your own pace. One walk of 10 minutes every day is a lot better than no walk. Two walks of 10 minutes or more a day is twice as good! Here’s the latest “benefits of walking” study, out of Australia. They followed 3,000 people for 15 years to prove longer, healthier lives are achieved: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/nov/05/walking-benefits-increasing-daily-steps-linked-longer-life-study-shows

One thing: If you smoke 30, 20 or 10 cigarettes a day, only put 29, 19 or 9 in your box for the day. You won’t miss one. Then the following week, put 28, 18 or 8, etc. and so on. Reduce at your pace. It all adds up to benefits. Some people can go cold turkey. Most can’t. Find what works for you. Often one less, then one less, and then one less, gives you the control and will power if you don’t like nicotine gums and other replacement support. See http://www.niquitin.co.uk/Articles/ready-to-take-control/quit-one-cigarette-at-a-time/ and http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents/what-we-cover/drug-coverage/bc-smoking-cessation-program

One thing: reduce the sugar in your foods and drinks (coffees, teas, etc.) by one measure for one week, then another one and so on; keep using the same amount for a few days till it tastes just as sweet as it did before and then go for a little less. See http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/added-sugar/art-20045328?pg=2 for more information on added sugars.

One thing: We have one life to live.If you would like to share one thing you have done to improve your health and wellness or achieve a personal goal, email editor@bcforestsafe.org or call toll-free: 1-877-741-1060.

If you like coffee, you are going to love this news

New Year’s resolutions: just one thing

Dr. David Perlmutter is an expert on brain health, known for his analysis and opinions on what we eat and how that and good gut bacteria impact our brain health. One of his latest blog posts is sure to make lots of us feel good or at least a little better about our coffee consumption. Of course, we need to point out that the research he is referencing focused on the benefits of coffee. When we consistently

have too many double-doubles (creams and sugars), we’re stepping up health risks attributed to fats and added sugars. But, given the very real concerns for all of us about brain health, especially for everyone over 50: Go have another coffee! Cut the cream (replace with milk) and reduce the sugar each time. See http://bit.ly/1PbaDLP for Dr. Perlmutter’s blogpost on coffee and the related research

at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health research: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/multimedia-article/benefits/

SAFETY IS GOOD BUSINESS 2015 DECEMBER FOREST SAFETY NEWS 15

Forest Safety News is pleased to announce that Braeden Coburn (6), of Powell River, is the winner of the 2nd annual model log truck draw. Braeden sent in his artwork which appeared in the February 2015 edition. His drawing showed his dad safely falling a tree. The model log truck was generously made and donated again this year by Alan Sommerville, of Duncan. Thank you Alan! And, congratulations Braeden! Your truck will be delivered to you later this month.

All the kids who sent in artwork to Forest Safety News in 2015 had their names entered into a draw for the log truck, including Cameron Rice (7), of Mission, and siblings Hailey Helm (8) and Graiden Helm (7), of Nanaimo, who sent in the super artwork shown below.

Cameron’s dad is a faller, and “Safety is Number 1,” says Cameron. Well done Cameron! That is a very important message for all of us, especially those of us who work in the woods and in the mills.

Hailey and Graiden’s dad is a heli-faller and Level 3 first aider working in the Ucluelet area. He is shown in both their fabulous drawings with all his PPE on, to help keep him safe. Well done!

Thanks Cameron, Hailey and Graiden! Loot bags are in the mail.

ABOUT Forest Safety NewsForest Safety News is published six times a year: February, April, June, August, October and December. All submissions – letters to the editor, safety tips, photos, safety stories, concerns etc. – are welcome. The opinions expressed in the newsletter are not necessarily those of the editor, staff or board of the BC Forest Safety Council. All decisions to publish materials rest with the editor. 12,000 copies of each edition are distributed via mail or email. Additional copies are distributed at industry events.

SubscriptionsIf you would like to continue to receive a hard copy or would prefer to receive an electronic copy of this newsletter, please email editor@bcforestsafe.org and ask to be added to the print copy or email distribution lists. Email subscriptions are encouraged.

Have a story, letter to the editor, safety tip, ideas or photos? Please send all submissions to: The editorForest Safety News420 Albert Street Nanaimo BC V9R 2V7

Call 1-877-741-1060 or email editor@bcforestsafe.org

The winner of the model log truck isBraeden Coburn!

Kid’s Corner Send in your artwork

www.bcforestsafe.org

Children are welcome to send in their artwork for publication, showing safe work activities in forestry – harvesting, logging, falling, log trucking, manufacturing, etc. Send them to: the editor, Forest Safety News, 420 Albert Street, Nanaimo BC V9R 2V7. Little loot bags are sent to all the artists who send in their artwork, and their names are entered into an annual end-of-year draw for a chance to win a model logging truck.

Remember who you are going to be safe for

today and every day!

Graiden Helm

Cameron Rice

Hailey Helm