Safety and Health Solutions for Logging Operations
Training Requirements
- All training must be conducted by a "designated person" - A "designated person" is defined as an employee who has the requisite knowledge, training and experience to perform the specified duties.
- Training must be certified by the employer.
- Each employee must receive first aid and CPR training and remain current in their training.
- Training materials must be appropriate in content and vocabulary to the educational level, literacy, and language skills of the employees.
Training Content:
- Safe performance of assigned work tasks.
- Safe use, operation and maintenance of tools, machines and vehicles including following the manufacturer's operating and maintenance instructions, warnings and precautions.
- Recognition of safety and health hazards associated with the employee's specific work tasks, including the use of measures and work practices to prevent or control those hazards.
- Procedures, practices and requirements of the employer's work site.
- The requirements of the Logging (1910.266) standard.
Personal Protective Equipment
- Provide appropriate eye, face, head, hand, ear protection and leg protection at no cost to employees.
- Assure PPE is maintained in a "serviceable condition" and inspected before each use.
- Repair and/or replace PPE that is not in a serviceable condition.
- Ensure foot protection is chain saw cut-resistant. Note: The employer is not required to provide logging boots for employees.
Accounting for Employees
- Account for each employee at the end of each workshift.
- This is to ensure that no injured employee is not inadvertently left in the woods without assistance. Note: Employees may remain in the area for personal reasons (e.g., hunting, fishing).
Environmental Conditions
- Terminate work and move employees to a safe place when environmental conditions create a hazard for an employee such as strong winds or storms which may adversely affect the fall of a tree.
- If a fire starts in an area where there is no fire extinguisher or other equipment or supplies which allow the employee to safely suppress it, assure that employees are moved out of the danger area.
- In situations where a fire creates a hazard due to size or intensity for any employee who remains in the area, either to work or to attempt to suppress the fire, assure that employees are removed from the area of danger instead of trying to extinguish the fire.
Work Areas
- Ensure adjacent occupied work areas are spaced at least two tree lengths apart including slopes.
- Ensure the duties of each employee are organized so the actions of one employee will not cause any other employee to be potentially exposed to logging hazards.
Working Within Visual or Audible Contact
- Ensure each employee involved in logging operations works in a position or location that is within visual or audible contact with another employee.
- Note: Engine noise, such as from chain saws, is not an acceptable means to "maintain contact".
Fire Extinguishers
- Provide and maintain portable fire extinguishers on each machine and vehicle involved in logging operations, during both operation and refueling.
- Visually inspect fire extinguishers monthly to ensure they are in serviceable condition - this check can be annotated on the back of the service tag.
- Record the annual maintenance check on the service tag.
- Ensure portable extinguishers are hydrostatically tested per schedule.
Starting Fires
- Flammable and combustible liquids, such as chain saw and diesel fuel, may be used in certain conditions to start a fire. This flexibility allows piles of wood or slash to be burned when permitted by forestry officials.
Signaling and Signal Equipment
- Ensure hand signals or audible contacts e.g., whistles, horns, or radios) are utilized whenever noise, distance, or other factors prevent clear understanding of normal voice communications between logging operation and employees.
- Note: Engine noise, such as from chain saws, is not an acceptable means to "maintain contact" or as a signal.
- Signals should only be provided by "designated employees".
- A "designated person" is defined as an employee who has the requisite knowledge, training and experience to perform the specified duties.
Flammable and Combustible Liquids
- Flammable and combustible materials must be stored, handled and transported in approved safety cans.
- Safety cans must be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory which do not hold more than 5 gallons capacity, have a spring-closing lid and spout, and are designed to safely relieve internal pressure when subjected to fire exposure.
