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Injury Prevention Resources for Forestry - Falling and Bucking

General | Falling & Bucking | Yarding & Skidding | Log Hauling | Silviculture/Tree Planting | Resource Roads


The following links list tools, publications, and other resources to help prevent the most common injuries and illnesses in the forestry industry. These resources may not meet all the requirements for health and safety in British Columbia. Please check the Workers Compensation Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, and related materials for specific WorkSafeBC requirements.

BC Faller Training Standard BK96

These info flips provide a condensed version of information from the new faller training standard, and are an update of the old Fallers' and Buckers' Handbook. Useful for a new or experienced faller, the documents' 40 sections provide information on clothing and personal protective equipment, protection from musculoskeletal injury, chainsaw maintenance, filing and handling information, crew transport, dangerous tree indicators, procedures for dealing with various falling scenarios, alternative falling methods, limbing, adverse weather, bucking hazards, and windthrow.

Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* Part One (PDF 1 MB)
* Part Two (PDF 1 MB)

Available in print from Publications, Videos and Forms Distribution.


OHS Faller Serious Injury and Fatal Review 2009

This report sets out recommendations of the WorkSafeBC internal faller serious injury and fatalities task team, which reviewed and analyzed reports of 32 serious injury and fatal incidents that occurred from 2000 to 2008.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (95 KB)

Chainsaw Safety PH50

Although this pamphlet still contains valuable information on the do's and don'ts of chainsaw operation, more up-to-date information on personal protective equipment and first aid can be found on this web site.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (327 KB)

Mechanical Harvesting (video)

video thumbnail Setting standards for safety: Mechanical harvesting
This video explores the key safety issues in the five phases of mechanical harvesting: worksite planning, safe work procedures, winter logging, guarding systems, and machine servicing. (19 min 23 s)
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC


Logging Safety Awareness (video)

video thumbnail Logging safety awareness
Safety is the most important aspect of every job in the forest industry. This video features the day-to-day elements of on-the-job safety. The three areas covered are: safe work procedures, communications, and emergencies. (11 min 01 s)
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC


Chainsaw Safety - Sawmills (1 of 2)

video thumbnail Chainsaw Safety - Sawmills (1 of 2)
This video describes in detail the fundamentals of safe chainsaw operation in sawmills, including saw selection, personal protective equipment, saw maintenance, saw operation, and cutting hazards. (11 min 34 s)
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC


Chainsaw Safety - Sawmills (2 of 2)

video thumbnail Chainsaw Safety - Sawmills (2 of 2)
This video describes in detail the fundamentals of safe chainsaw operation in sawmills, including saw selection, personal protective equipment, saw maintenance, saw operation, and cutting hazards. (8 min 11 s)
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC


Safe Chainsaw Handling (video)

This video covers the correct upkeep maintenance of all major components including: mounting the guide bar and chain, filing the chain, and transporting the chain.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
Available for loan from WorkSafeBC Library Services.

Safe Use of Chainsaws (video)

Instruction is given in the safe use and handling of chainsaws - valuable for anyone falling or bucking: amateurs, students, and first-time users as workers. Described are maintenance, falling and bucking techniques, and use of safety equipment. Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
Available for loan from WorkSafeBC Library Services.

Stihl Chain Saws Alert

"The insulation covering an ignition-system ground wire on Stihl chain saws can wear through prematurely by rubbing against the housing. The bare ground wire can then ignite a fire if gasoline or some other combustible substance is present. At least one fire is reported to have been caused in this way."
Source: CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)
* HTML

Safety Hazards - Chainsaws

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) provides information on the following areas for chainsaw use: Source: CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety)

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