Forest Operations Review

Accidents are a common occurrence in the wood product industry. Many of them result in injuries and, often times, fatalities. No one intentionally hurts themselves, but a simple moment of inattention can lead to a mishap.

"When Is Training Needed?"

What will your obituary read like? Will it do justice to your life and your family? Three different logging-related fatalities that occurred this year resulted in the following headlines: “Area Man Killed in Logging Accident,” “Father Perishes in Logging Explosion Accident,” and “Local 19-year-old is Killed in Logging Mishap.” How can we turn the tide against the events that lead to such headlines?

As the new Chair of the Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety Foundation, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and share my views on safety.

It starts with the influence of my father, who had a 28-year Army career, which meant our family traveled and relocated frequently. Throughout all that, I always remember his primary concern: to train his soldiers to survive war and return home safely to family and friends.

Is a picture really worth a thousand words? If so, the Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety Foundation is on the right track.

The safety of the strapping young fellow you just hired in your logging business is now your responsibility. His enthusiasm to work hard and make a difference in your organization can be a great benefit to you. Or, if not properly trained, mentored, and guided, he can become injured—or worse.

So, here we go again.

We hear about a serious logging injury or, worse yet, a fatality. Maybe we knew the victim or the operator.

Or we see a newspaper article detailing an accident involving a log truck and a school bus.