Your 2016 Safety Ideas

First Place Ideas - Winners of N.H Bragg gift certificate supplied by GH Berlin and MEMIC:

-When working near powerline with live boom always have 2-way communication with a spotter equipped with a high burst air horn. Ben F. – Andrews Timber.

-Use grip tape on the load bar handle so hands don’t slip off bar when tightening the load. Arthur L. – Treeline Inc.

-Ensure loader and truck seats are firmly attached to vehicle by adding it to the daily checklist. Diane D. – William A. Day Jr & Sons.

-Use your tailgate as a stretcher to get someone out of the woods if they are injured. Cody D. – Big Timber LLC.

-Flashlight on the collar of your shirt for working in the dark getting on and off equipment and out of the woods. Jerry F. – Elliott Jordan & Son.

-Install chain covers on log trucks over the tire chain racks to prevent falling on chain hooks. Chad D.

– Nichols Brothers.

-Put pictures of family in your cab to constantly be reminded of what you have to go home to. Joey L. – Madden Sustainable Forestry.

-Coil up straps and then use both hands to throw over a load. This prevents strain on shoulders. Joe P.

Hanington Brothers Inc.

Second Place Ideas - Winners of N.H Bragg gift certificate supplied by GH Berlin and MEMIC:

-Install a metal cover over tire chains on the log trailers to prevent drivers from falling on the chain hooks. Andrew J.

– Treeline Inc.

-During the winter turn off the heat to freeze the windshield so the snow won’t stick and you won’t need wipers. Lester D. – Gerald Pelletier Inc.

-Wear a safety harness when cleaning a delimber. Chad W.

– Gerald Pelletier Inc.

-Chip truck drivers should get out of the truck till box is half loaded from metal coming out of the chipper chute. Corey E. – Eastman C-L-T Logging.

We asked for your safety ideas during our 2016 PLC Safety Training Series, with prizes awarded for the best ones at each training site. Here are the top safety picks of 2016

-Write the GPS coordinates & directions on the notification sign on the landing for a centralized place for emergency information. Mallory B. – Maine Custom Woodlands.

-Go over fire suppression systems with employees so they know how they work and are able to diagnose issues. Jeff L. – Dean Young Forestry.

-Carry a “Spot” – personal GPS. Call in at least once a day. Marco G.

-Install quick latches on all access panels to promote ease of access for cleaning and to put out a fire if one occurs. Matthew L. – Maine Woods Pellet Co.

Third Place Ideas - Winners of N.H Bragg gift certificate supplied by GH Berlin and MEMIC:

-Wear safety glasses while fueling high flow diesel pumps with wide fill holes - fuel can splash into face. Shane K. –Treeline Inc.

-Slash towards pile or put wood on the exhaust side of slasher to de-energize flying debris from saw blade. Bob B. –Treeline Inc.

-Use ice grippers for good footing to prevent slips, trips and falls. Chris S.

-Equipment should come with a first aid kit or have an area designed to store it in. Taneli K. –Buckco Inc.

-Slip guard on blades, step ladder to hook on chains, add hand grabs on equipment and trucks. Jonathan H. –Madden Timberlands.

-Use hands free phone while driving and put phone in glove box. Forest B.

Sappi.

-A device that operators wear that will activate a strobe light on the machine if he falls off the machine or is “down”. Scott D. – Katahdin Fire.

-Park your pick-up headed out of the woods in the case of an emergency. Matt M. – McGary Logging.

-Mandatory CB or cell phone check-ins at predetermined intervals for crews in the field. Andrew L. – Linkletter & Sons.