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Policies Part 26
Policies Part 26 Contents
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
ROADS AND ROAD MAINTENANCE
WATER OPERATIONS
R26.86-1 RE: Forestry Operations - Water Operations - Boat Equipment (Towline Guards and OPS for Boom Boats)
Policies Part 26 - General Requirements
Policy Item R26.11-1
RE: Forestry Operations - General Requirements - Dangerous Trees (Removal Prior to Silviculture Activities)
BACKGROUND
1. Explanatory Notes
Section 26.11 sets out the requirements for removal of dangerous trees where forestry operations are taking place.
2. The Regulation
Section 26.1:
"dangerous tree" includes any tree that is hazardous to workers because of location or lean, physical damage, overhead hazards, deterioration of the limbs, stem or root system, or a combination of these.Section 26.11:
(1) If work in a forestry operation will expose a worker to a dangerous tree, the tree must be removed.
(2) Trees that will interfere with rig-up, the movement of lines and equipment, or that could be pushed or pulled into the work area must be removed.
(3) Saplings over 6 m (20 ft) tall, in an area where cable logging is being done, must be moved before yarding commences.
(4) If it is not practicable to comply with subsection (3), such as during partial cutting operations, alternative work methods or procedures which minimize the risk to workers may be used, and the work must be directed by a supervisor who has, as far as practicable, controlled the danger to any worker.
(5) Any dangerous tree, regardless of height, located within an active hand falling or cable logging operation must not interfere with safe falling or yarding practices, and if it does interfere, it must be removed.
(6) A dangerous tree in a forestry operation may be left standing during operations other than construction or harvesting ifM
(a) no significant ground vibrations are likely to be produced,
(b) no work will be done within reach of the tree when wind speed exceeds 20 km/h (12 mph), and
(c) a tree assessor who has completed a training program acceptable to the board determines that the tree will not be dangerous to workers during the planned activity.(7) If tree planting is to be done in an area that has more than 500 dangerous trees per hectare, the board may approve a request to work without removing all the dangerous trees if, before work commences,
(a) a representative sample of the dangerous trees is assessed by a tree assessor who has completed a training program acceptable to the board,
(b) any findings of the assessment as to the removal of dangerous trees or other trees are implemented, and
(c) no silviculture is done within reach of dangerous trees when wind speed exceeds 20 km/h (12 mph).
POLICY
Silviculture activities include tree planting, juvenile spacing, tree thinning, surveys, cone collecting, brush or weed control and chemical use in tree thinning practices.
Except where sections 26.11(6) and 26.11(7) apply, the responsibility for ensuring that dangerous trees are removed rests with the B.C. Ministry of Forests, owner, licensee or contractor responsible for the work. The felling of dangerous trees is not to be carried out in conjunction with silviculture activities. Dangerous tree removal must be undertaken before silviculture workers are permitted into the hazard area. It is also the B.C. Ministry of Forests, owner, licensee or contractor's responsibility to ensure all falling activities are carried out by trained and competent fallers. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in orders being issued on the B.C. Ministry of Forests, owner, licensee, or contractor.
This policy does not relieve any sub-contractor of responsibility for compliance with the Regulation.
PRACTICE
For any relevant PRACTICE information, readers should consult the Prevention Division's Guidelines available on the WCB website.
| EFFECTIVE DATE: | April 1, 2001 |
| AUTHORITY: | s.26.11, Occupational Health and Safety Regulation |
| CROSS REFERENCES: | s. 118, Workers Compensation Act, ss. 26.2 and 26.21, Occupational Health and Safety Regulation |
| HISTORY: | Replaces Policy No. 60.14 of the Prevention Division Policy and Procedure Manual |
| APPLICATION: | This Item results from the 2000/2001 "editorial" consolidation of all prevention policies into the Prevention Manual. The POLICY in this Item merely continues the substantive requirements of Policy No. 60.14, as they existed prior to the Effective Date, with any wording changes necessary to reflect legislative and regulatory changes since Policy No. 60.14 was issued. |
Policies Part 26 - Roads and Road Maintenance
Policy Item R26.79-1
RE: Forestry Operations - Roads and Road Maintenance - Haul Road Standards (Maintenance of Forest Roads)
BACKGROUND
1. Explanatory Notes
Section 26.79 sets out requirements for maintenance and construction of roads used to transport workers and forest products in forestry operations.
2. The Regulation
Section 26.79:
Roads, bridges, elevated platforms, and other structures used by vehicles transporting workers, logs or other forest products in forestry operations must be constructed and maintained to a standard which will permit safe transit.
POLICY
Each industrial user of a forest road must have a permit from the B.C. Ministry of Forests (MOF). Responsibility for maintenance of forest roads will be assigned by MOF to one or more holders of such permits. Where it is not known which permit holders are responsible for maintenance of a portion or all of a forest road, this information can be obtained from the district office of the MOF.
Officers of the Board will issue orders to the permit holder(s) responsible for maintenance of a forest road if road conditions are creating a danger to workers. The orders will require the correction or control of the unsafe condition and, if necessary, restrict use of the road until the danger is controlled or eliminated.
Each employer is responsible for ensuring the safe travel of any of its equipment on any forest road or haul road system.
PRACTICE
For any relevant PRACTICE information, readers should consult the Prevention Division's Guidelines available on the WCB website.
| EFFECTIVE DATE: | April 1, 2001 |
| AUTHORITY: | s. 26.79, Occupational Health and Safety Regulation |
| CROSS REFERENCES: | |
| HISTORY: | Replaces Policy No. 60.226 of the Prevention Division Policy and Procedure Manual |
| APPLICATION: | This Item results from the 2000/2001 "editorial" consolidation of all Prevention policies into the Prevention Manual. The POLICY in this Item merely continues the substantive requirements of Policy No. 60.226, as they existed prior to the Effective Date, with any wording changes necessary to reflect legislative and regulatory changes since Policy No. 60.226 was issued. |
Policies Part 26 - Water Operations
Policy Item R26.86-1
RE: Forestry Operations - Water Operations - Boat Equipment (Towline Guards and OPS for Boom Boats)
BACKGROUND
1. Explanatory Notes
Section 26.86(1)(c) and (d) sets out requirements for suitable cabins, screens or guards in certain circumstances for operators of boats used in or about a forestry operation.
2. The Regulation
Section 26.86(1) in part:
A boat must be equipped with
...
(c) suitable cabins, screens or guards to protect operators against injury from towline breakage if the boats are regularly required to pull logs, booms or barges,
(d) suitable cabins, screens or guards meeting the requirements of WCB Standard G606, Boom Boat Operator Protective Structures if operators are subject to injury from logs or limbs intruding into the control area ....
POLICY
Towline guards are only required on boats used primarily for towing.
Operator Protective Structures (OPS) are only required on boats used to break "jackpots". Jackpots are piles of logs resulting from self-dumping barges.
PRACTICE
For any relevant PRACTICE information, readers should consult the Guidelines available on the WCB website.
| EFFECTIVE DATE: | April 1, 2001 |
| AUTHORITY: | s. 26.86(1)(c) and (d), Occupational Health and Safety Regulation |
| CROSS REFERENCES: | |
| HISTORY: | Housekeeping changes were made on March 1, 2005 to reflect the October 29, 2003 changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation ("OHSR"). This Item originally replaced Policy No. 60.260(6) and (7) of the former Prevention Division Policy and Procedure Manual. Effective October 29, 2003, the reproduction of section 26.86(1)(d) of the OHSR in this Item was revised to reflect its amendment. This Item results from the 2000/2001 "editorial" consolidation of all Prevention policies into the Prevention Manual. The POLICY in this Item merely continues the substantive requirements of Policy No. 60.260(6)&(7), as they existed prior to the Effective Date, with any wording changes necessary to reflect legislative and regulatory changes since Policy No. 60.260(6)&(7) was issued. |
| APPLICATION: | This policy applies to towline guards and operator protective structures for boom boats on and after April 1, 2001. |
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