This section contains all news releases from the BC Forest Safety Council.
If you are not sure when the news release you are looking for was issued you can use our search function, located at the top of this page.
The British Columbia Forest Safety Council (the Council) was created by the forestry industry in September 2004 as a not-for-profit society dedicated to promoting forest safety. Through the efforts of industry, solid progress in reducing serious injuries and fatalities has been made (see attachment on this article). Our challenge is to build on the success of the last seven years. read more »
Effective January 2012, the BC Forest Safety Council will be increasing the fees charged for all training courses we deliver. Since the Council was formed in 2005, course fees have remained relatively unchanged - with a few exceptions. read more »
Nanaimo, B.C. – A Williams Lake logging company has received an award from the BC Forest Safety Council, in recognition of their notable contribution to forest industry safety within their operations in 2011.
Westline Harvesting Ltd. was presented the Safety M.V.P. of the Year award at the Vancouver Island Safety Conference, October 1st in Nanaimo. The award, co-presented to Westline Operations Manager David Whitwell by the Honourable Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Donna Wilson, vice-president of Industry Services and Sustainability, WorkSafeBC and Safety Council CEO Peter Lineen, was created to acknowledge safety improvements at work through persistent efforts to seek changes by a company that has demonstrated leadership in integrating health & safety into their business practices. read more »
Nanaimo, B.C. – The co-founder of Duncan-based Alternative Forest Operations Ltd. (AFO) has received an award from the BC Forest Safety Council, in recognition of a long career in the forest industry that has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving safety awareness, expanding safety knowledge, developing safety skills at ground level and building a lasting culture of safety among BC’s forest workers. read more »
NANAIMO– The BC Forest Safety Council’s board of directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Lineen as the new CEO of the forest sector’s health and safety association. Lineen, who was previously the Council’s COO, is passionate about health and safety and is acutely familiar with industry’s challenges in eliminating fatalities and serious injuries. read more »
On July 21, 2010, a group of recreational boaters spotted a fire in a wooded area near Golden, BC. Because there was a camp fire ban in effect at the time, the boaters reported the fire to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO), who in turn dispatched personnel to investigate. When the government officials arrived at the Khaira campsite where the fire had been spotted, they were greeted by a crew of silviculture workers. Nearly all the workers were black males, and as new Canadians, spoke little or no English. One of the workers was visibly injured and bleeding from the head. All the workers expressed relief and gratitude to the officials for arriving at the camp, and some said that they “hadn’t eaten in two days.” read more »
This is the fourth annual report of the BC Forest Safety Ombudsman.
The report highlights our activities over the past year and also provides some observations on the “Path Forward” for the BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC). read more »
Nanaimo, BC – (February 11, 2011) - A case involving what the provincial government called "unacceptable" treatment of 58 silvicultural workers will be examined by BC Forest Safety Ombudsman Roger Harris as part of a review of silviculture camp systems. read more »
WorkSafeBC has announced its Board of Directors has approved several amendments to its Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.
Those changes will become effective February 1, 2011, and may impact your operations. read more »
| Only 0 days left to get your audit in before the December 31, 2010 deadline. |  |
Please ensure all necessary documents are contained in your submission so there are no delays in your company receiving or maintaining SAFE Certification.
To maintain SAFE Certification and eligibility for a WorkSafeBC Certificate of Recognition (COR) rebate, your company must complete and submit an audit each year appropriate for the size of the company. Audits, support forms and tutorials can be found at our website http://bcforestsafe.org/SAFE_Companies_Updates. read more »
Please be advised that the BC Forest Safety Council will be implementing the attached Guidelines for obtaining and maintaining SAFE Companies Certification effective January 1, 2011 for companies already registered and/or certified with SAFE Companies. For new companies registering after October 7, 2010, the Guidelines are effective immediately upon registration. read more »
The 2010 Leadership in Safety awards were presented at the Vancouver Island Safety Conference on October 2 in Nanaimo, BC, recognizing this year’s safety leaders in British Columbia’s forest industry.
Numerous nominations were received from all regions of the province and ultimately the field was narrowed down to four very worthy recipients. As always, the nominations told compelling stories of safety leadership and dedication that made – and continues to make a difference. The Council wishes to thank Patrick Bell, Minister of Forests and Range and Jim McCaskill, WorkSafeBC Regional Director for Vancouver island for co-presenting the awards. Congratulations to all who were selected and nominated and thank you to those who sent in nominations over the course of 2010!
For the full story, click here
I am pleased to announce that Kate Montague has accepted the position of Program Coordinator, Transportation Safety, effective October 12.
This is a new position for Transportation Safety, in alignment with our intent to provide additional support to transportation program initiatives. read more »
JOB TITLE: Falling Safety Advisor
REPORTS TO: Director, Safety Services
PURPOSE: To manage and provide oversight for all the Council’s falling programs, including development and implementation of programs, policies, training and quality assurance.
Specific Accountabilities Include: read more »
JOB TITLE: Safety Audit Advisor
REPORTS TO: Director, Safety Services
PURPOSE: To support all aspects of the Certificate of Recognition (COR) and SAFE Companies Program with the goal of reducing injuries and fatalities in the workplace.
Specific Accountabilities Include: read more »
JOB TITLE: Training and Program Development Advisor
REPORTS TO: Director, Safety Services
PURPOSE: To provide development, coordination and delivery of training and injury prevention programs that meet the needs of industry. read more »
This year’s free conference addresses how woodlands and wood products manufacturing operations can improve their business success by reducing health and safety risks. read more »
JOB TITLE: Program Coordinator – Prince George Office
REPORTS TO: Director, Transportation Safety
PURPOSE:Assist in the development and execution of the programs and services for two programs, and manage the Prince George Office.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILTIES: read more »
JOB TITLE: Manager, Training and Program Development
REPORTS TO: Director, Safety Services
PURPOSE: To provide leadership and management for the development of injury prevention programs including the delivery and coordination of quality safety training. read more »
JOB TITLE: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Coordinator
REPORTS TO: Business Manager read more »
We’re heading out to a number of communities in our province as part of the revised audit roll-outs. After a short presentation, we will be available for questions and help with your audit questions. Here is the complete list of towns we'll be visiting:
Please let us know if you don't receive your info package. A Reply Contest Entry Form is included in the mailout and a copy is available here.
Click here for the audits. Everyone I have met in the industry, who has a forestry operation, whether it is large or small, wants their employees as well as themselves to go home with read more »
Well, it’s been a busy few months but the 2009 Vancouver Island Safety Conference certificates have now been printed and are being mailed out next week. We have also finished sifting through the flipcharts and notebooks from all the workshops. read more »
On July 29 and July 30, 2009, a Death Review Panel was convened in Nanaimo to
examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of three tree fallers who died in
coastal logging operations in the early part of 2008.
Fifteen panel members were appointed under Section 49 of the Coroners Act. The panel read more »
E-mail Submission of BASE audits
Effective immediately, external BASE auditors may submit their audit reports to the Council electronically by emailing to craig@bcforestsafe.org
Internal auditors are encouraged, but not required, to submit by email. read more »
As your new SAFE Companies director, I want you to know that we’ve heard your feedback and, effective immediately December 21, 2009, we’re holding back the release of any new audit versions and assessing all other existing audits. read more »
The Council has withdrawn the recently-introduced BASE Audit version 2, and we are also delaying the planned 2010 implementation of new SEBASE and IOO audit protocols. All of them are being reworked. read more »
We encourage everyone to give us anonymous feedback on the audit process. Please take 15 minutes and complete the survey prior to January 15, 2010. Click here to go directly to the survey.
Steve Chaplin, Registered Forest Technologist, has been appointed Director of SAFE Companies, bringing a broad range of operational experience to this key Council position. read more »
Whether you are an IOO or SEBASE company, the absolute latest date to submit your maintenance audit in order to maintain SAFE certification and COR rebate eligibility is December 31,2009. Audits must be post marked or hand delivered to a Council office no later than December 31st, 2009. read more »
The BC Forest Safety Council is pleased to announce that Chuck Carter, RPF, is joining the Council in December as its Director of Transportation Safety, based in Prince George. read more »
B.C.’s forest product manufacturers (FPM) now have access to the SAFE Companies program, following an October decision by the Council’s Executive Committee.
The new policy is in line with WorkSafeBC’s “natural alignment” concept, which allows certification of employers that have no health and safety association, but operate in related sectors. read more »
Vancouver, BC (November 3, 2009) – Kids from across the province were invited to draw a picture of what the forests in their communities mean to them. There were over 1,300 entries from every corner of the province – a huge increase from 2008’s 200 entries.
The winning entries included pictures of the children camping and hiking in the forest as well as homes for animals and healthy planets. There were 165 entries in the 4-5 age group; 523 entries in the 6-8 age group and 675 entries in the 9-12 age group. The winners include: read more »
The BC Forest Safety Council is pleased to announce the release of BASE Audit Version 2. The new standard consists of two main components, 1) COR Health and Safety audit (Element A – H), and 2) IM/RTW audit (Element I). The new standard is designed to further improve worker safety and the overall productivity of your business operations. Companies with 20 or more employees now can be certified on both components and receive a total of 15% rebate from WorkSafeBC. A training program is being launched immediately to assist companies and auditors to meet the requirements of BASE Audit Version 2. read more »
As part of a province-wide effort to improve safety on resources roads, the Western Silviculture Contractors' Association is leading a series of training sessions on operating light trucks. read more »
South Peace Road Safety Commitee
History
In the last 10 years motor vehicles have claimed 68 lives in the forest and oil and gas industries of British Columbia. Resouce road fatalities accounted for 36 of these fatalities. The predominant contributing factors related to resource roads were road design and maintenance, speed, personal impairment and lack of radio communication. Failure to wear seat belts was noted in 58% of resource road fatalities. (Reference: Resource Road Demonstration Project Final Report July 2009)." read more »
The BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC) is pleased to announce that the Wood Products Manufacturing sector can now access WorkSafeBC (WSBC) Certificate of Recognition (COR) rebates through natural alignment. After gathering input from the Forest Products Manufacturing sector through outreach efforts and meetings held in throughout 2009 the BCFSC Board of Directors has approved moving forward. read more »
Vancouver, B.C. – (October 5, 2009) – The BC Forest Safety Council and Ministry of Labour have recognized two forestry workers for advancing safe practices in BC’s forest industry. read more »
Peter Lineen will be joining the BC Forest Safety Council in the new role of Chief Operating Officer effective September 1 reporting to the CEO, Reynold Hert. Reporting to Peter will be the Program Directors: Krista Bax for Safe Companies, Steve Mueller for Forest Worker Development, and the future replacement for the position of Director, TruckSafe. read more »
This progress report by the BC Forest Safety Council is for the people in the forest industry and others interested in safety in British Columbia's working woods.
Titled Taking safety to the next level, the report lets you: read more »
VANCOUVER – The BC Forest Safety Council’s board of directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Reynold Hert as the new CEO of the forest sector’s health and safety association. Hert, who joins the Council March 16, brings a passion for safety, along with an extensive background in forestry. read more »
NANAIMO – The BC Forest Safety Council has recognized two of its associates for their outstanding commitment and dedication to advancing safety in BC’s forests. read more »
With weather across the province turning to rain, sleet and snow, the BC Forest Safety Council is reminding drivers to use safe winter driving practices when they hit the roads. read more »
Canada’s first safe certification program focusing on Individual Owner Operators (IOO) has just produced its inaugural 50 successful participants. read more »
With a long weekend approaching, the BC Forest Safety Council and Ministry of Forests and Range are reminding all drivers to use extra caution on the roads. read more »
The BC Forest Safety Council is urging extra caution on resource roads because of an overlap of silviculture activities and log harvesting activities. read more »
As a result of the first independent, comprehensive review of resource roads in BC, the province’s Forest Safety Ombudsman is calling for significant changes to enh read more »
BC’s forest industry is stepping up its approach to ensuring all fallers are working safely on the job. read more »
With frosty weather beginning to hit parts of the province, the BC Forest Safety Council is reminding all drivers to adopt safe winter driving practices. read more »
The forest sector’s commitment to improving its safety performance is beginning to pay off with significant reductions in injuries and costs. read more »
With private motorists responsible for 84 per cent of collisions with logging trucks, the BC Forest Safety Council is reminding drivers to use extra caution this summer. read more »
The second comprehensive review to be conducted by BC’s Forest Safety Ombudsman, Roger Harris, will examine resource roads and how to improve their function and safety for both people in the read more »
In response to an industry-wide demand for standardized safety training for supervisors, the BC Forest Safety Council is launching the sector's first supervisor training program that will lead to c read more »
The BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC) has recently named four safety advocates as part of its SAFE Companies program. read more »
The first BC forestry companies to become SAFE (Safety Accord Forestry Enterprise) Certified Companies were recognized today at the Truck Loggers Convention in Vancouver. read more »
Safety performance in BC’s forest industry was markedly better in 2006 over the previous year with the lowest number of sector fatalities ever recorded, says the BC Forest Safety Council. read more »
| News Releases from 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||
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This section provides a full list of media materials gathered by the Council prior to December of 2006.
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