Logging remains one of the most dangerous industries in the United States. Every year approximately 800 American workers die as the result of workplace accidents. The logging industry accounts for about 24% of these claims. Most of these deaths are the result of employees working as fellers, limbers, buckers, choker setters, truck drivers, laborers and material machine operators. Now is the time for all parties in the logging industry and their workers’ compensation insurers to take note and continually strive for safer work conditions.
The Dynamics of a Logging Work Injury
Work injuries in the logging industry fall into several general categories. These include injuries resulting from falling objects, falls from heights and crane accidents. Common injuries involve trauma to a person’s back/neck, fractured bones, TBIs/other brain injuries, paralysis, amputations, disfigurements and permanent scarring. Beyond the physical component, the average workers’ compensation claim involving someone within the logging industry includes an underlying mental competent that includes psychological or psychiatric trauma.
The bottom line is clear – workers’ compensation injuries sustained by a logger are generally more severe and costly to a program. Any steps that can prevent injuries or reduce costs following an injury have a significant impact on the sustainability of an employer’s bottom line. Now is the time to take proactive action.
Moving Beyond the General OSHA Requirements
OSHA safety standards have a positive impact on making an inherently workplace safe. Specific rules have been implemented under 29 C.F.R. §1910.266. These regulations apply to all types of workplaces regardless of the end use of the forest products such as sawlogs, veneer bolts, pulpwood and chips. Covered under these regulations include the following safety requirements:
- Extensive first-aid training for all employees;
- Requirements for the use of personal protective equipment;
- Requirements that include the use of rollover and falling-object protective structures; and
- Improved techniques for manual felling procedures. This includes instruction on how to properly undercut and back cut to prevent premature twisting and falling of trees.
In addition to following these safety requirements, employers and other interested stakeholders can take additional steps to improve workplace/site safety and prevent injuries.
- Compulsory adherence to safety standards. This includes consistent enforcement of safety policies and termination of employment for repeat offenders. Safety must also apply equally to all employees;
- Continual evaluation of workplace performance when engaging in work duties. This includes an evaluation of felling techniques by loggers to ensure training is being used on work sites;
- Proper maintenance of all tools and equipment. This includes a commitment to storing equipment in a location that prevents excessive wear and tear. It also means fixing equipment when problems arise and not continuing to use it if safety is a concern; and
- Commitment to safety with the implementation of a safety committee.
Avoiding Other Common Safety Hazards
Loggers are exposed to countless dangers on a daily basis. Paying attention to one’s surroundings is only the beginning when it comes to injury avoidance.
- Work boot safety: Loggers must wear steel-toed work boots. Problems arise when boots are not labeled correctly to avoid potential electrical hazards or are subject to product recall;
- Review of Safety Reports: Interested stakeholders can learn a lot about the anatomy of common and avoidable injuries by reading OSHA injury reports. Learning how to avoid these issues is key; and
- Education, education, education: Logging remains a dangerous occupation notwithstanding the inclusion of safety standards, regulations, and Interested stakeholders need to make education a priority.
Conclusions
The nature of the logging industry makes it a hazardous workplace activity. The result of an injury in this occupation is life-changing. Interested stakeholders need to be proactive when it comes to workplace safety and strive to reduce the prevalence of injury and death through ongoing efforts.
Author Michael Stack, CEO Amaxx LLC. He is an expert in workers’ compensation cost containment systems and helps employers reduce their workers’ comp costs by 20% to 50%. He works as a consultant to large and mid-market clients, is a co-author of Your Ultimate Guide To Mastering Workers Comp Costs, a comprehensive step-by-step manual of cost containment strategies based on hands-on field experience, and is founder & lead trainer of Amaxx Workers’ Comp Training Center .
Contact: [email protected].
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