The Logger's VOICE - Spring 2020

Volume 14 Issue 2 | Spring 2020

A Quarterly Publication of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

This issue of The Logger’s Voice is dedicated to the memory of Robin A. Crawford Sr. 1945-2020 Story page 10.

Board of Directors

The PLC dedicates this issue of The Logger’s Voice to the memory of PLC Member Robin A. Crawford Sr.

Jim Nicols, President Tony Madden, 1st Vice President Chuck Ames, 2nd Vice President Will Cole, Secretary Andy Irish, Treasurer

A quarterly publication of:

Scott Madden, Past President

The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Aaron Adams Kurt Babineau Donald Cole Tom Cushman Brent Day

108 Sewall St., P.O. Box 1036 Augusta, ME 04332 Phone: 207.688.8195 www.maineloggers.com

Marc Greaney Steve Hanington Duane Jordan Robert Linkletter Randy Kimball Ron Ridley Wayne Tripp Gary Voisine

PLC Staff Executive Director Dana Doran ▪ executivedirector@maineloggers.com Membership Services Coordinator Jessica Clark ▪ jessica@maineloggers.com Safety and Training Coordinator Donald Burr ▪ safety@maineloggers.com

The Logger’s Voice Editor and Designer Jon Humphrey Communications and Photography ▪ jehumphreycommunications@gmail.com Advertising Jessica Clark ▪ jessica@maineloggers.com Email news, notices, and correspondence ▪ jehumphreycommunications@gmail.com

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Member Tribute

Robin A. Crawford Sr. Supporting Member Spotlight

Fabian Oil

Also Inside 4 6 7 8 19 23 24 31 32 34 38 40 41 44 47 48

Calendar and Updates President’s Report New Members Executive Director’s Report Economic Impact Study MLOP Summer 2020 Trucking Legislative Breakfast COVID-19 Resources Safety Maine Forest Rangers Meet Your District Forester Controlling Water at the Harvest ALC Updates NE Safe Logger Congressional Updates

Cover: Trees Ltd. spring harvesting underway in Augusta, April 7.

Event

Calendar

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Updates

Do you have news to share?

The PLC is always seeking news from our Members that showcases our industry’s professionalism, generosity, and ingenuity.

Send ideas to jonathan@maineloggers.com

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

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From the President

By Jim Nicols Hello Everyone By the time you read this most everyone will be well into mud season. I hope all of you had a good winter. It seemed to be exceptionally warm and not a lot of snow in Western Maine. It was one of the warmest months of March that I can remember.

We held our legislative breakfast in early March and had a great turnout. It was the largest crowd we’ve had with over 150 people attending. The legislators got an update on the state of our industry and some of our needs moving forward. We talked about some of our successes that we have had working with them and thanked them for all of their efforts.

As a result of the work the legislature did in March, we are pleased to announce that the Mechanized Logging Operations Program will run again. Looks like it is still on track to be held in midsummer. It will begin on Monday, June 22nd in the greater Old Town area.

Labor continues to be one of our greatest challenges and we believe this partnership between our industry and all the partners with this program is making a difference. If you haven’t had a chance to check it out while the school is in session, plan to do so. You will be impressed. Give Donald Burr a call to set up a time to visit or if you have friends or relatives who you feel should be enrolled, please have them apply right away.

I hope everyone is adjusting and adapting to the COVID-19 crisis. It certainly is impacting our membership in the way we conduct business on a daily basis. It is impacting our employees and the vendors that everyone does business with daily. The guidelines and rules have been changing almost daily. It looks like we have been classified as essential businesses. I hesitate to write too much because by the time that this goes to print things might be very different from when I write this.

There is a lot of information out there to guide you with making decisions in running your business in these unique times. Most importantly, stay safe and take all of the precautions that you can to keep yourselves and employees safe.

The PLC can try to help answer questions you may have. Give the office a call and they will do their best to answer them.

By now you probably know that we have postponed our Spring Trainings because of the COVID-19 virus. We will update you on this as more information becomes available and as the crisis lessens.

We have also had to postpone our Annual Meeting to a later date to be announced. It is our 25th anniversary of the PLC. When we know when things can be rescheduled we will get this information to you.

We will get through this difficult situation and adapt. Meanwhile everyone take care of yourselves and your employees. Stay safe.

Thanks, Jimmy

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Welcome New Members A. Chartier Trucking & Logging LLC of Mexico, ME joined the PLC as a new Contractor Member in January of 2020. The company has a professional staff of 3. For more information contact Allen Chartier at (207) 592-2144 or email allen.chartier@yahoo.com.

areas of farming, commercial fishing and logging.

The NEC is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Learn more at http://www.necenter.org or email NEC.Logging@bassett.org.

Ancra Cargo joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in January of 2020. Ancra Cargo is a world-class leader in the area of cargo handling and restraint systems. Founded in 1969 with the mission to improve safety and security for the transportation industry, it has grown to be North America’s largest designer and manufacturer of load maximizing systems. With over 100 current patents, Ancra Cargo is dedicated to innovating, designing and manufacturing the highest quality products to meet the evolving needs of customers. Today, the Cargo Systems Group, headquarter in Erlanger, Kentucky, is a leading designer and manufacturer of cargo securement systems for heavy-duty transportation. In addition, the company has manufacturing and distribution locations in Texas, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. For more information contact Tim Varga at 848-444-2767 or email tvarga@ancra.com.

Sullivan Tire joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in January of 2020. Sullivan Tire is a family owned and operated business and has been serving customers in New England since 1955. The company today has over 1,200 employees of which over 25% have been with the company for 10 years or more, and has over 100 locations across New England. The business consists of four divisions; Retail, Commercial Truck, Wholesale, and Liftworks.

For more information contact Rick Despins at (207) 310-1295, email rick.despins@sullivantire.com or go to www.sullivantire.com.

Innovative Natural Resource Solutions LLC of Antrim, New Hampshire joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in January 2020. Founded in 1994, INRS specializes in assisting business, nonprofit and government clients in resolving today’s complex natural resource management and business challenges. Company partners Charles Levesque, Eric Kingsley and Charles Niebling bring over 75 years of extensive experience, energy and creativity to this important work. For more information contact Charles Levesque at (603) 588-3272 or email levesque@inrsllc.com Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (NEC) of Cooperstown, NY joined the PLC as a new Supporting Member in January of 2020. Serving a twelve-state region from Maine through West Virginia, NEC promotes health and safety research, education, and prevention activities in the high-risk

Weiler Forestry joined the PLC as a new Enhanced Supporting Member in January of 2020. Weiler Forestry was formed in 2019 to purchase the purposebuilt forestry division of Caterpillar. Weiler Forestry manufactures an expanding line of forest products through facilities located in LaGrange, Georgia, Smithfield, North Carolina and Auburn, Alabama. Weiler Forestry will design and manufacture purpose-built forestry products, which will continue to be available through the Cat dealer network, providing customers with the same outstanding sales and service support they’ve come to expect. Production of Weiler Forestry machines began in September 2019. For more information contact Dirk Nielsen at 819) 790-0946 or email dnielsen@weilerforestry.com.

Not a member but interested in joining the PLC? Contact Jessica at (207) 688-8195 or email jessica@maineloggers.com

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

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From the Executive Director

Uncharted Waters

By Dana Doran It’s April 1st and the snow has lifetimes. As a student of history, before all already melted in many parts of the state is forgotten, I thought it would be helpful to and will soon in others. We might still have summarize all that has happened in the last another storm or two, but that will just four weeks, not to pour salt in the wound, amount to more mud, longer road postings but to look back upon it someday if and a bunch of delays. Snow doesn’t help necessary. Of course, I’ve also learned it’s at this time of year. not valuable to repeat history but learn from The roads have been posted in it and prepare for the future. many areas since early February and most if The spring of 2020 was supposed to not all of our members have put their be a time for rest, a time for training and a equipment in the garage for spring time for reflection. A time when our maintenance. This is a rite of passage for members and their employees could get loggers in the Northeast. And as together and talk about the last winter, their challenging as it can be to balance cash struggles, their successes, the good times flow in the downtime, most folks know that and the bad. A time to celebrate 25 years of after a very long winter, it’s time to take a the PLC and what it has done for loggers break, to do different things and prepare for and truckers in Maine from 1995 – 2020. the next push late spring and early summer.

The month of March came in like a However, this mud season is lamb but ended like an angry lion. different in so many ways. It is so different We were hearing from the that it may never be repeated in our membership in Aroostook County that

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

winter was coming to a close quickly, but it was not because of the weather. Mills were full from winter harvests and many contractors were asked to shut down operations at least two to four weeks sooner than usual. While this was unexpected, it was also explainable as one major mill in Maine had not yet restarted and another was slowly being impacted by something called the coronavirus all the way over in China.

While it was frustrating for many, it wasn’t anything that we hadn’t seen or experienced before in the last five years. This too would pass, or so we thought.

The PLC also had its annual legislative breakfast in Augusta on March 5th. Over 50 legislators attended and nearly 125 members and supporting members came to hear about the issues facing the industry and the ways that the Legislature could help. Speaker of the House Sara Gideon joined us and commended the PLC on its role in the legislative process and all of the good work that the organization has done to protect and improve one of Maine’s most important industries. And this also

provided the perfect backdrop for the PLC to release its new economic impact study, which showed that while things have dropped off considerably since 2014, the overall economic impact of logging in Maine as of 2017 was still over $620 million to the Maine economy each year.

Our work at the Legislature was also ramping up as we had four or five really important bills/issues still in play and things would get taken care of in the final five weeks of the session.

And lastly, the PLC was planning its annual spring safety trainings for the membership and over 1,000 of their employees to kick off in southern Maine on Thursday, April 2nd and our 25th Annual Meeting celebration was scheduled for Friday, May 8th at the Cross Center in Bangor.

On or around Friday, March 13th, all of that changed in what feels like a 9-11 moment, but also feels like it was years ago at this point.

In what I can only describe as a slow rolling ice storm without the downed

Doran Continued Page 16

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C

HESTER - Robin A. Crawford Sr. started working in the woods with his brothers when he was 13 years old. He had his first truck in 1965, and in November of 1969 he purchased his first new truck, a 1969 GMC 6500 with tag axle installed, and went on to build one of the most successful logging and trucking companies in Maine.

A member of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC) who joined the year the organization formed in 1995, he passed away on March 5 at the age of 74.

The PLC wanted to take this opportunity to honor Robin’s contribution to Maine’s logging and trucking industry, but also to remember the man himself. With the permission of his family and the assistance of Tammy MacEachern, office manager for Robin A. Crawford & Son Woods Co., who collected memories from the family and shared her own, we have written this article in an attempt to do both.

Robin, also known variously as, “RA”, “Bob”, “Push Rod”, “Dad”, “Uncle Bob”, “Pappy”, and “Bobby”, certainly left his mark on Maine’s logging and trucking industry. Born in 1945 in Drew Plantation, in an

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

area where the woods business was and still is a mainstay of the economy, he grew up surrounded by logging and woods trucking. From a young age, Robin loved trucks, and that never changed.

A graduate of Wytopitlock High School, Class of 1963, it was the same year he wed Lois J. Lawrence, and they went on to raise a family and build a life and a business together.

Today, Robin A. Crawford & Son Woods Co. trucks with the distinctive “C” in the grille are a common sight on the roads of Maine, but in 1965 it was only Robin and the one truck.

From the very beginning, Robin established a reputation for hard work, honesty, and good business sense. His word meant something.

“Bob was a hard worker from a very young age and grew to be a very intelligent businessman,” Tammy said. “A loyal man that took his word very seriously, if he gave someone his word he would do everything he could do to make it happen. He never went back on his word. Bob was a successful businessman because of the man that he was.”

Over the years as he built up his trucking

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Robin A. Crawford Sr. 1945-2020

The Professional Logging Contractors of Maine (PLC) would like to offer condolences to the family of Robin A. Crawford Sr. and to thank them for allowing us to share his story in The Logger’s Voice.

Mr. Crawford was a member of the PLC from its founding on who exemplified the qualities that represent the best of Maine’s logging industry.

He will be missed.

Photos: Background, Robin A Crawford & Son Woods Co. trucks with the distinctive “C” lined up for the day.

Left, Robin more than five decades ago in the early days of his career.

Crawford

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

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Crawford

Continued from Page 11

business in Drew Plantation, Robin became respected as a wood, Robin A Crawford & Son Woods Co. also downbusinessman, and was well liked. He loved to talk to and sized and sold its garage in Millinocket as the work along be around people, and he had a good sense of humor. the Golden Road decreased.

When in 1987 he decided to get into logging by acquiring Today, Robin A. Crawford & Son Woods Co. a logging company that had continues to operate out of gone out of business, he was Chester over a large area of already successful. Working Maine with six harvester for Hank McPherson and crews and one processor starting out with eight hand crew. There are an average of crews, he quickly built 15 Crawford trucks on the success in logging as well. road these days and there Over the next two would be more but - like decades Robin A. Crawford every logging and trucking & Son Woods Co. expanded company in Maine - the and adapted to changes in the business’s demand for drivers industry. The business grew is greater than the supply. and transitioned from hand The company logs a crews to mechanized logging. mix of commercial It relocated its main base of timberland and private lots. operations to Chester in 1996.

Company trucks have also The trucking fleet expanded hauled potatoes for many as well. years during mud season.

In 2000, Robin There are about 70 bought Lobster Lake Camps employees on the payroll and on Lobster Lake and shortly the company is always after that established an looking for more. Some of additional garage in those employees started back Millinocket to better serve on the hand crews in 1987 crews working off the Golden the year the company was Road. The company had by founded, a testament to the then become a major piece of loyalty Robin inspired in his the forest economy in the workforce and in others. region, establishing a very “He was a very close working relationship generous man, he helped a lot with the Haynes family (H.C. of people in a lot of different Haynes Inc.) that has lasted ways, from getting them Some of Robin A. Crawford & Son’s equipment, 40 years and working for started in their own business ready to roll. other major landowners or getting them through until including Wagner Forest Management, Great North their next paycheck, he was always there to help,” Tammy Woods, and Prentiss and Carlisle. said, recalling times when workers who had just started The company has always been a family business, with the company would ask if they could borrow money and as it grew, so did Robin’s family. His wife, Lois, and he would pull out cash and say, “no problem pay me worked alongside him from the beginning to make the back when you can.” business a success, and spent many years working in the “I’d say, Bob you’re not a bank, but he was just so office in Grindstone and then later in Medway. His son, generous that way, always looking to help other people. He Robin, “Grog” Crawford Jr. helped him build the business was a great listener, anyone that came to him with and took over running it a while ago. Grog’s son Robin anything, he was always willing to lend an ear, he was just Crawford III has his own truck, which his Pappy was a great guy,” Tammy said. proud that he took that step out on his own a year ago, and Robin’s generosity extended to many his son Kenneth is currently a supervisor for the company. organizations and causes, to which he donated regularly.

Dan Larlee, his son in law, has been running the Crawford These included the PLC’s Log A Load For Kids annual garage since 1998. fund drive, as well as St. Jude’s Children’s Research When Maine’s logging industry contracted several Hospital, which he was particularly fond of. years ago as many mill shutdowns reduced markets for One measure of the influence Robin and the

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

business have had on the community and the logging and especially those that run in the Maine woods - face daily. trucking industry was demonstrated when his grandson, There was not a lot of time for hobbies in the years Kenneth, posted on he spent building up the Facebook asking anyone business, but Robin had who had ever driven a always wanted to own a Crawford truck for his 1958 Chevy Impala grandfather or father to convertible, and finally post a picture of the in August of 2012 his truck. The pictures grandson, Robin III, started coming convinced him to buy immediately, and they one he found on now go on for pages, Facebook, sight unseen. with hundreds of He soon vowed never to comments and good buy a car sight unseen memories from people again after getting it who worked for the home and finding out Three generations of Crawfords in the business. From left, company or still do, and how much work it Robin III, Robin Sr., Grog, and Kenneth. they show just how big needed, but with typical and far reaching the persistence and attention to detail he began to restore it. By impact of that company - and the man who founded it the time he was done, the car was immaculate, and when he have been. and Lois began attending car shows with it they won many Family mattered more than anything else to Robin, trophies, and the shows and the car became a source of and he took great pride in providing for his family. PLC great enjoyment to both.

Members who knew him well recall him talking at length In recent years, it was hard to miss a close about his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. friendship that developed between Robin and Grog’s dog, “He loved spending time with his family, he Brutus, who became the company mascot and whose always believed in his family, that they could do anything - picture even appears on many of the company chip boxes. that was probably one of the greatest gifts that he could Any day Brutus came to the office he would run straight to Robin, and if he wasn’t there yet he would sit in the have given any of them,” Tammy said. window and watch for him for hours.

“That dog just loved Bob, as soon as that pickup pulled in the driveway he knew who it was, he’d go running out to him and they had such a bond,” Tammy said. “He’s only been to the office once since Bob has passed, but even now he will sit in the window and just wait for him to show up, because that’s what he’d do anytime Bob wasn’t here, he’d just sit and look out the window Robin’s 1958 Chevy Impala convertible. In recent years, and wait for him.”

Brutus, waiting in the he and Lois attended many car shows and won many window at the office for Robin A. Crawford trophies with it.

Robin Sr. Sr. will be missed.

The PLC is dedicating this issue of The Logger’s Robin also took great pride in the trucks that he Voice to his memory. Our condolences go out to his loved. He insisted that Crawford trucks be kept in top family, and we thank them for letting us share a bit of his condition, looking like they just came off the showroom floor in spite of the rough conditions any truck in Maine - story.

PLC Members remember Robin A. Crawford Sr. Page 14

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Maine’s Forest Products Industry loses a “Pioneer Logging Contractor” with respect, like an equal. I always appreciated that.

I knew of Robin Crawford a year or two before I met him. It was the 80’s. A time of disruption Robin was not much for meetings and in the Maine Woods as logging was mechanizing and committees. Nor was he much interested to be in the big companies like GNP and Georgia Pacific were limelight. However, when needed, Robin was not shutting down their mechanical operations due to high afraid to step up to the plate. When Cheryl Russell costs in favor of relying on hard working, risk taking, asked Robin to participate in the PLC selection innovative men like Robin Crawford to harvest the committee to recruit the second Executive Director in millions of tons of fiber needed to run their mills.

PLC’s history, Robin was quick to accept the challenge. I was lucky enough to be on that When I finally met Robin, I liked him right away. I respect all of my competitors, but there was committee with Robin. I found Robin to be engaged and extremely thoughtful regarding his participation. something about Robin that caused me, and many others, to just plain like the man. Robin had a way to Robin supplied a level of leadership to the process that was calm and confident. That effort started the make a point and make you laugh at the same time.

I need to set the stage in order to share one of PLC on an upward trajectory that continues to this the first memories I have of Robin. As Maine logging day.

Over the years, I have enjoyed a few precious contractors mechanized, the entire industry personal moments with Robin, and his extraordinary experienced a significant learning curve. This was a wife, Lois. From these moments I can attest to the new way to harvest wood. It was a totally new economic model. Feller-bunchers could mechanically fact that Robin and Lois are driven by a fierce love for their family. Personal conversations that I have cut smaller trees than traditional hand crews. enjoyed with Robin and Lois have been dominated by However, that did not mean that they could economically cut smaller trees. The first conversation talk of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. They clearly have had big hopes and I remember having with Robin was him saying “Brian, I’m tellin’ ya, we’ve gotta get these Foresters dreams for the next several generations! to understand that these $300,000 fellah-bunchers are To Lois and the Crawford Family, thank you not weed-wackers!” And he said it as only Robin for sharing Robin so selflessly with our Forest could say it, loud, red faced, so you knew he was Products Industry. Robin is one of those unsung serious, but with a grin and a laugh to go with it. That heroes who most people have no idea what a huge was 30 some-odd years ago, so however he said it, it contribution he made. was memorable.

Rest in Peace Robin Crawford.

I have always had a lot of respect for Robin. I grew up in the woods business in Robin’s shadow.

Brian Souers Robin was established. He was miles ahead of me in President knowing what he was doing. However, in any Treeline, Inc. dealings I ever had with Robin, he always treated me

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

PLC Members remember Robin A. Crawford Sr. “One of my earliest memories of being in the woods, with my dad, was the first time I met Bob. Back then Bob hauled for Dad with his own truck. I was probably 10 or 11 years old and we went over to the woods to load Bob with 4 foot.

I remember the piles because they were neatly stacked and my Dad wasn't that good with the crane. I was brought along to straighten the wood that he spilled on the ground while Bob straightened the wood on the body of the truck.

When we finally got the truck loaded I remember Bob telling Dad that I did alright for a young fella. Everyone else would tell Dad that all I did was get in the way.

Bob was a great motivator. I'm going to miss his stories.”

Steve Hanington, Hanington Bros. Inc. “As close as I can remember Bob Crawford started hauling wood for our family business in the late 1970's. For over 40 years he and his family have harvested and trucked huge volumes of timber to mills all over Maine, New

Hampshire, Quebec & New Brunswick as a subcontractor for our company.

Bob was very witty and quick to the draw. I remember around the year 2000 asking him to move his crews onto the Public Lands in Township 4 to harvest wood. His reply was, " I lost my ass in there in the 1990's why the hell would I want to go back lookin' for it?" He certainly could make us all smile.

Contracts were not necessary with Bob, his word was gold. He was 100% old school and will be sadly missed by myself and the forest industry.”

Jay Haynes, H.C. Haynes Inc. “You could always tell if Bob was in a room just hearing his contagious laugh! In the logging industry, contractors feel downhearted at times and Bob had that unique way of making you feel better. He will be sadly missed.”

George and Mary Keegan, Thompson Forest and Trucking

Thanks for the memories Robin Crawford Sr.

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

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Doran Continued from Page 9 power lines, property damage and bone chilling cold date later this year that might work for everyone to come weather, the world feels like it has come to a standstill. and celebrate. It would really be drastic if we couldn’t host What we had heard about on TV and read about in the this celebration of the last 25 years and continue our newspapers, primarily in China, was now on our doorstep. amazing philanthropic work on behalf of the Log A Load First, schools closed and may not reopen this year. for Kids program. That said, we will hope for the best and Then, guidelines were sent out from the Centers for perhaps this fall we can have one great day of celebration Disease Control which provided limitations on human and reflection that will put a period at the end of this contact. First, the groups could not be any bigger than 50, sentence. then that was reduced to 10. From there, certain businesses On Tuesday, March 24th, Governor Mills in Maine were closed (bars and restaurants) and that has proclaimed in an Executive Order that all forestry related now morphed into any public facing establishment except businesses (manufacturing, services, logging and trucking) for those on the “essential” list. were essential to the continuation of human existence.

As a result of the drastic orders from both the And most recently, on April 2nd, the Governor put in place federal and state governments, the dominos started to fall. a stay at home order for non-essential businesses and The Legislature announced that they would employees, which further restricts the movement of adjourn their annual session after one last ditch effort on commerce and people.

Tuesday, March 17th. When it was announced that the While this was a very important proclamation and final day of the session would only be devoted to the gave a pathway forward for the supply chain, I also know it Supplemental Budget and the Coronavirus impacts, I felt came with great angst and reservation, and more questions that this was only appropriate, especially if the public that answers. From our membership, I’ve been asked, couldn’t be in attendance. However, if you have read my what happens if a mill shuts down because of the virus? legislative updates and the recent Op Ed. in the Central What will happen to markets now and in the future the Maine Newspapers, you know that what was publicly longer that this pandemic forges on? Because we are announced in advance is not exactly what happened. essential, does that mean that we can’t lay our employees Unfortunately, in what has become typical of legislative off and if we are forced to, are they not eligible for proceedings, what’s in front of you isn’t always unemployment or other business salvage options? It is representative of what’s behind the curtain. The really important to be considered essential to give yourself Legislature moved a bill (LD 1698) that will undoubtedly a fighting chance, but if you have nowhere to sell your add cost and burden to contractors with no financial product, what are you supposed to do? benefit. We will need to work with the Governor to get As the world shutters around us and thousands are this changed or overturned in the future. It was an put out of work, I had one member call me and say, “Well, unfortunate turn of events that just leads to continued I really feel bad for those are who are being impacted by distrust of many of our elected leaders. this entire situation. It can’t be easy on their families and Then, the PLC was forced to postpone its spring this is not good for our state or our country right now. safety trainings to either dates later in the fall or perhaps However, this will also give folks a feel for how loggers altogether pending the outcome of the pandemic. In an feel every year when they get laid off during mud season.” example of how moments like this bring out the best in And while this wasn’t intended to be spiteful in any way, it people, we sought the advice of the major workers’ comp. certainly did put things in perspective very quickly. With carriers and all are willing to work with the membership the shortage of paper products, and the mass layoffs, I and the insurance agents to be flexible with respect to believe it has changed the public’s perspective on how workers’ comp. training requirements if need be. important loggers really are to our daily existence.

From there, we postponed our annual meeting to a As the carnage has continued to pile up in such a Doran

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Doran Continued from Page 16 short period of time, much to our chagrin, the role of government has also increased significantly. And while many of us disagree on the approach, it appears that fiscal policy (governmental spending) appears to be one of the only ways to shock the economy and slow the damage.

On March 27th, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES), which attempts to infuse $2 trillion back into the economy to keep people working, bills paid and food on the table. It includes many provisions, including Payroll Protection loans and additional unemployment stipends which might help, but they also might hurt in the long run. Members are calling on a daily basis looking for guidance on what they should do with these programs and what might be the correct call for their business and their employees. Desperate times call for desperate measures I guess, and it makes me proud to work for this organization and provide value and help to our members wherever we can, even if the answers are not easy to come by.

When will this ice storm end; I’m not really sure at this point? For anyone in Maine or around the world impacted by this ice storm, it will forever be known as the year with an asterisk. The year that the world came to a shuddering halt, all because of something that we cannot see, and it certainly will leave a void and a mark in many different ways.

I think the debate is still out on that but hopefully our social distancing and extreme measures to limit the spread of the virus will really take hold through the month of April. In the meantime, the logging community will do what it does best and look after their families, their neighbors and their communities, doing whatever they can do to make the best of a challenging situation. If called upon (and we have offered the help of the logging community to the Governor’s Office), we will do whatever we can do to help as well.

Rest assured that the PLC will be here for you to try to provide a navigational map for these uncharted waters. Loggers are resilient, they are resourceful, and this too shall pass and I’m sure that we can get through this because that’s what loggers do. Know that the PLC as an organization will do the same because we don’t have any other choice. If you are on the front line fighting for your businesses, fighting for your employees, and fighting for your communities, we will do the same. We are all in this together and for me, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Before you know it, this too shall pass and it will make the new beginnings, the trainings and all of the delayed celebrations, that much more special. For all of our members, I hope that you stay healthy, safe and sane during this unprecedented time. Love your family, your employees, your neighbors and yourselves and if there is anything we can do to help, please do not hesitate to ask as we are only a phone call, a text or an email away at any time.

Dana.

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Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Economic impact study reveals Maine loggers and truckers contributed $619 million to state economy in 2017

in 2017.

The study, “The Economic Contribution of Logging and Trucking in Maine,” conducted by the University of Maine and the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, revealed that in 2017 logging supported approximately 9,366 Maine jobs either directly or indirectly, generated UGUSTA – The Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine released results of a $342 million in labor income, pumped an estimated $25 comprehensive study of the economic impact of million into state and local tax coffers, and remains critical Maine logging on March 5, showing the industry to a range of industries and communities across Maine.

“This study demonstrates the vast impact logging contributed an estimated $619 million to the state economy

Study shows logging and woods trucking supports more than 9,000 jobs and a range of industries and communities across Maine

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Study

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Study

Continued from Page 19

has on the Maine economy and highlights its role as the foundation of the state’s entire $7.7 billion forest products industry,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, said. “It also shows what Maine stands to lose if the mounting challenges to the logging industry are not overcome.”

To better understand the nature of the harvesting industry in Maine, analysts combined a traditional inputoutput (IMPLAN) analysis with primary data gathered from member companies of the PLC, the logging trade association representing companies that together harvest more than 75 percent of all timber harvested in Maine. The study calculates the economic impact of logging in the state of Maine for 2017 through both the IMPLAN analysis as well as a survey delivered to members of the PLC in 2018.

Where appropriate, results were also compared with findings of a previous, similar study on the 2014 impact of Maine logging to identify industry trends. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, and other appropriate sources was incorporated in the analysis to present a complete picture of the industry’s status.

In addition to overall economic impact and jobs, findings of the study and associated research included: • According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the real average wage for workers in the logging industry in 2017 was $47,289 (in 2018 dollars). This represents a 3.2 percent increase in wages since 2014.

• The survey sent to PLC contractors showed mechanization remains dominant in the industry: Fully 56 percent of surveyed firms were identified as whole tree harvesting operations, and another 35 percent as cut-tolength harvesting operations – both of which use combinations of mechanized logging equipment such as feller bunchers, delimbers, grapple skidders, forwarders, and harvesters to cut, yard, and process wood. Only 8 percent were identified as conventional hand crews using chain saws. Respondent companies employed slightly fewer crews on average in 2018 than in 2014. Interestingly, the proportion of cut-to-length crews in mechanized logging (while still a minority) increased in 2018.

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Maine’s logging sector is heavily dominated by small businesses, with an average (between 2006 and 2016) of 67% of employing establishments in the industry employing fewer than 5 people. Additionally, 1,719 non-employer entities in the logging and harvest sector were reported in Maine during 2017. These entities are overwhelmingly (94%) sole proprietorships.

• Survey respondents reported an average of 13 fulltime equivalent employees per firm. As in 2014, the majority of respondent employees work in the woods, on average 7 per firm; an additional average of 2 per firm

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

provide office support, 3 trucking and 1 mechanical support. It is notable that the average number of wood-based employees per firm, as calculated from survey responses, is a little more than half of what it was in 2014.

• On average, survey respondents had 42 operational weeks in 2018 and harvested 1,621 acres per firm.

• Trucking remains critical to the logging industry. Most survey respondents (26%) trucked either all or the majority (37%) of the material harvested by their firm. Thirteen percent rarely (less than 50% of the time) trucked their own material and 24% contracted with an outside source for all their trucking needs.

• Logging is a capital-intensive industry.

Survey respondents reported $21.1 million in new capital investment – 76% of which was spent on new equipment.

• For 2018, Maine Forest Service data showed 11,817,367 tons of timber were harvested in Maine including 4,222,170 tons of saw timber, 5,391,052 tons of pulp wood, and 2,204,145 tons of biomass. That was an overall decrease of from 2014, when data showed 14,188,085 tons of timber were harvested in Maine, including 4,004,051 tons of saw timber, 7,289,270 tons of pulp wood, and 2,894,764 tons of biomass.

The economic study released today comes in the wake of a 2019 “Maine Logger and Log Trucker Employment Availability and Wage Analysis Report” prepared by the Maine Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Southern Maine that found Maine is facing a shortage of loggers and log truckers that will grow and which could hinder the growth of the forest products industry in the state if wage growth does not occur. That study revealed wages for logging equipment operators and log truckers in Maine are lower than those for comparable jobs in competing industries in the state, and this combined with a tight labor market and looming retirement for large numbers of loggers is concerning for Maine’s forest economy.

The heart of the issue identified by the 2019 study is profit margins for logging contractors have dwindled as costs of doing business have risen, limiting the ability of contractors to raise pay for workers. With low unemployment and strong competition for skilled operators of heavy machinery and trucks, logging contractors are struggling simply to keep the workers they have, let alone attract new ones.

Study

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Continued Page 22

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Study

Continued from Page 21 “The inevitable conclusion based on a review of the new study and of the wage and employment study released last year is that logging is a critical Maine industry under threat that must be preserved if the state is to avoid a collapse of its forest products industry and the deep and irreversible impacts that would have on Maine’s economy, rural communities, and character,” Doran said. “The challenges facing loggers are not insurmountable, but failure to overcome them would be disastrous for Maine.”

Harvesting is an integral part of Maine’s forest products industry. Wood pulp, wood, and paper and paperboard are Maine's 5th, 6th and 7th most valuable exports, respectively, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In an increasingly global world, the competitiveness of these exports relies on the economic feasibility and health of the harvesting industry that makes it all possible. The industry today faces many challenges but is meeting them by seeking new and nontraditional markets, increasing the

focus on professionalism and safety, utilizing the latest technology, and working to educate a new and highly skilled generation of loggers for the future.

One key to the future of the increasingly complex logging industry is education, and this means the Mechanized Logging Operations Programs (MLOP) created by the PLC in partnership with the Maine Community College System, and with support from the state and industry partners, is critical to training a new generation of loggers ready to enter to the industry as older workers reach retirement age. The program is currently recruiting students for its fourth 12-week class, scheduled to begin June 22 in the Old Town area.

To see the full study, go to: http://maineloggers.com/new/ wp-content/uploads/2020/03/3.4.2020-LoggingReport_Final-Review_Color-FINAL.pdf

Did you know PLC Supporting Members can purchase additional ad space in the Logger’s Voice?

Contact Jessica at 207-688-8195 to learn more!

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Mechanized Logging Operations Program Recruiting Students for Summer 2020 12-week certificate program to be offered beginning in June

logging equipment that now harvests more than 95 percent of all timber in Maine is strong and getting stronger. Many current operators are reaching retirement age and the steep costs of training new operators is driving up demand and wages.

The program is working in tandem with the state’s current vocational training system and so far has drawn

OLD TOWN - Recruiting is now underway for students in the Mechanized Logging Operations Program (MLOP), which is beginning its next class June 22 in the woods northeast of Old Town.

Students enrolled in the post-secondary training program will spend weeks harvesting timber using sophisticated state-of-the-art machines like those they will encounter in the logging industry. The hands-on experience students gain operating equipment is something unavailable anywhere else in Maine and neighboring states.

This summer’s class will be the fourth since the program launched in 2017. Graduation for the class will be held in September.

“I would encourage any individual with an interest in a good-paying, exciting career in the Maine woods to consider the MLOP program,” Dana Doran, Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine Graduates and instructors of the 2019 program. The 2020 (PLC), said. “There is no better, more efficient way to gain program will begin in June. the experience and knowledge you need to become an many of its students from within the logging industry itself equipment operator in the logging industry.”

The latest class to complete the program graduated as well as from Maine’s four Career and Technical High School logging programs in Dyer Brook, Farmington, in Sept. 2019. All 15 students enrolled in the program completed it successfully and all received job offers in the Norway/South Paris and Rumford/Mexico. For the first time, logging operators are being trained similarly to other logging industry. Coordinators of the program plan to advanced trade occupations with a high school and accept 15 students into this summer’s program as well. A postsecondary pathway approach. specific harvest site for the program is now being chosen A promotional video for MLOP developed by the but the regional location has been chosen.

PLC gives potential students a good look at the The Mechanized Logging Operations Program was opportunities afforded by the program and the logging created thanks to a partnership between three Maine industry. community colleges, the PLC, and industry partners The video was developed thanks to support from including Milton CAT and Nortrax.

Farm Credit East. It is available on YouTube at https:// The program gives students a broad overview of www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI5YwXiM6Gg the most common mechanical systems found in modern The PLC partnered with the Maine Community timber harvesting equipment, and an understanding of the College System and industry to create the program. It was variables of timber growth, tree species, and markets. It jointly developed by the PLC and Northern Maine also includes a strong emphasis on safety.

Students who are accepted into the program pay no Community College (NMCC), Eastern Maine Community tuition, but are responsible for transportation, housing, and College (EMCC), and Washington County Community College (WCCC) with generous support from Milton CAT/ food costs. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is CAT Forest Products, Nortrax Inc./John Deere, and other provided by the program. industry partners.

Mechanized logging operators are among the The program has been supported since its inception highest paid members of the logging workforce. through Maine Quality Centers, a program to develop and Anyone with an interest in the program should contact Leah Buck at Northern Maine Community College support skilled in-demand and high wage occupations in at 207-768-2768. Information and application instructions Maine. may be found online at https://www.nmcc.edu/industrycustomized-training/mechanized-forest-operations/ Anyone interested in becoming an instructor for the While the logging industry has seen some program should contact Donald Burr at contraction in recent years, the demand for skilled (207) 356-1541. operators of the feller bunchers, harvesters, grapple skidders, forwarders, delimbers, and other mechanized

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

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Trucking Trucking Industry News...

Ohio Street Bridge Project…

The Maine Department of Transportation is replacing the Ohio Street Bridge, which carries Ohio Street over I-95 in Bangor. Demolition began in February and will continue through April. The new bridge will be open

by September 2020. During demolition and construction, Extension of Compliance Date for Entry-Level Driver local traffic, including pedestrians, will be detoured. After Training… the new bridge opens, there will be alternating one-way traffic with flaggers until the project is completed in ACTION: Interim final rule with request for November 2020. comment.

There will also be complete interstate closures, SUMMARY: FMCSA is amending its December either northbound or southbound, during overnight hours - 8, 2016, final rule, "Minimum Training Requirements for Entry-Level Commercial Motor Vehicle between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. These closures are Operators" (ELDT final rule), by extending the compliance allowed Monday through Thursday, and detours will be clearly marked. There will be no interstate closures during date for the rule from February 7, 2020, to February 7, 2022. This action will provide FMCSA additional time to July and August. Regular updates on this project are complete development of the Training Provider Registry posted at https://www.maine.gov/mdot/projects/bangor/ (TPR). The TPR will allow training providers to selfohiost/ certify that they meet the training requirements and will DOT Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance provide the electronic interface that will receive and store entry-level driver training (ELDT) certification Notice… information from training providers and transmit that information to the State Driver Licensing Agencies The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, Pub. (SDLAs). The extension also provides SDLAs with time to L. 115-334, (Farm Bill) removed hemp from the definition modify their information technology (IT) systems and of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. Under procedures, as necessary, to accommodate their receipt of the Farm Bill, hemp-derived products containing a driver-specific ELDT data from the TPR. FMCSA is concentration of up to 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) delaying the entire ELDT final rule, as opposed to a partial are not controlled substances. THC is the primary delay as proposed, due to delays in implementation of the psychoactive component of marijuana. Any product, TPR that were not foreseen when the proposed rule was including “Cannabidiol” (CBD) products, with a published. concentration of more than 0.3% THC remains classified Click to read or download more at https:// as marijuana, a Schedule I drug under the Controlled www.fmcsa.dot.gov/newsroom/extension-compliance-date Substances Act. Learn more at https:// -entry-level-driver-training-1 content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOT/ bulletins/27bd19f

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Trucking Cross-border Prohibition for CMV drivers with Insulin Treated Diabetes Mellitus (ITDM) Removed...

FMCSA Colleagues, In our continuing effort to provide awareness of resources available for motor carriers and CMV drivers that cross the U.S.-Canada border, we wanted to ensure you were aware that on Sept. 24, 2019, FMCSA and Canada formally updated our medical reciprocity agreement with Canada and removed the cross-border prohibition for CMV drivers with Insulin Treated Diabetes Mellitus (ITDM). We have posted the letters exchanged by FMCSA and Transport Canada on the International Safety Programs webpage https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/ international-programs. You can find links to both the FMCSA and Canadian letters reflecting the removal of the cross-border prohibition for CMV drivers with ITDM, under both headings Entering Canada and Entering the United States.

Additionally, we have posted an updated FAQ on the International Safety Programs related to this change, under the Frequently Asked Questions-Medical Qualifications heading, at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/internationalprograms/medical-qualification-requirements. Since Canada is beginning to conduct outreach with its industry partners, we are expecting FMCSA Division Offices (in particular, northern border Divisions) to begin receiving questions of this nature. As such, please refer to the enclosed link, and should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Carla Vagnini of the FMCSA North American Borders Division, via email at Carla.vagnini@dot.gov, or by phone at (202) 366-3771.

Trucking section

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

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Trucking Trucking Industry News...

Madawaska/Edmundston International Bridge Replacement Project…

After nearly 100 years of service, the Madawaska/ Edmundston International Bridge is in poor condition.

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Despite efforts to maintain the bridge, the rate of deterioration has accelerated to the point that the end of the useful service life is fast approaching. In October 2017, the bridge was posted at five tons (the equivalent of a passenger vehicle). Therefore, any substantial investments

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Trucking would be impractical. Since this bridge is nearly 100 years old, it no longer meets the needs of the communities and local businesses because of it's width and load capacity. It would cost more to upgrade the current bridge than to build a new one.

In May of 2018, the Madawaska/Edmundston International Bridge and Border Crossing Feasibility Study was finalized by MaineDOT, the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (NBDTI), and the US General Services Administration (GSA). The study recommended that a new bridge connect the existing border station in Edmundston, NB to a fully-modernized station in Madawaska. This bridge will be built approximately 1,300 feet upriver on the St. John.

The purpose of the proposed project is to provide for the long-term, safe and efficient flow of current and projected traffic volumes, including the movement of goods and people, between Madawaska and Edmundston. The project is necessary because:

▪ The size and conditions of the existing building and overall site of the Madawaska border station are substandard, preventing customs and inspection agencies from adequately fulfilling their respective missions.

The project is set to advertise in Q4 of 2020, but physical construction may not begin until 2021, depending on contract, award, and mobilization timing.

▪ The existing International Bridge is nearing the end of its useful life and is posted at a 5-ton weight limit.

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

27

PLC Supporting Member Spotlight: Fabian Oil

Fabian Oil began in 1988 at this gas station on Oak Street in Oakland Maine, now greatly expanded and with a convenience store. Today, the company’s headquarters is located directly across the street and its fabrication shop (opposite photo) behind the original fuel station builds and services both its own fleet of delivery trucks as well as those of other businesses.

O

and began retailing home heating fuel there. As time went AKLAND - Fabian Oil Inc. has a lot in common with Maine loggers. A family owned on the company grew slowly. More gas stations and home heating branches followed as Fabian began investing in and operated business like most of the state’s logging contractors, Fabian is always busy, but other product lines. The company built some of these new locations from the ground up, in other cases Fabian its operations reach a peak in the winter months during acquired existing businesses, and the growth continued. heating season.

In 2012 Fabian Oil built a fabrication shop behind And for Fabian Oil, just as it is for loggers, a long the original Fabian gas station in cold winter is good for business.

Oakland - now a full-service fuel This winter was not a long “Today we have nearly 200 station with a convenience store or a cold one, but as in all recent employees, 10 home heating and began building oil and propane winters, red and white Fabian Oil branches throughout Maine, and a delivery trucks for its own fleet as delivery trucks have been a large network of Fabian branded and well as other businesses and even familiar sight on the roads of unbranded gas stations throughout competitors. This was a great move Maine and - increasingly New England. The Fabian brand is for the company, Ted said. throughout the New England. It “That’s how we keep our wasn’t always like this. Fabian Oil in five states: Maine, New fleet in mint condition and Inc., founded in 1988 by Edward J. Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, minimize a lot of the maintenance “EJ” Fabian in Oakland, Maine, and Rhode Island.” issues,” Ted said. started out small.

In 2015, another game “It started as a full-service changing move occurred when Fabian acquired the gas station right across the street and soon after began Kenoco gasoline brand and dealer network, launching the retailing home heating products,” Ted Fabian, EJ’s son, company on a path to rapid expansion. and vice president of the company, said recently at Fabian’s main office on Oak Street in Oakland. “He was “That was a large acquisition. They had some basically right out of college.” customers out of state, in New Hampshire, and that’s really what made us decide that we needed to branch out Not long after that modest beginning Fabian Oil on the wholesale distribution side. We started in New jumped into the Jay area market with one delivery truck

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Hampshire and then soon after Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont,” Ted said.

After revitalizing the Kenoco network Fabian decided to phase out the Kenoco brand and rebrand most locations as Fabian Oil. That process is still underway but nearing completion and with it and many new acquisitions in the last few years, Fabian has emerged as a major marketer of petroleum products and a full-service company offering all types of heating and motor fuels as well as a full-scale service department for oil, propane and natural gas.

“So today we have nearly 200 employees, 10 home heating branches throughout Maine, and a large network of Fabian branded and unbranded gas stations throughout New England. The Fabian brand is in five states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island,” Ted said.

While growth for Fabian geographically across states has been dramatic, the growth in services and locations in Maine itself has been equally impressive.

Fabian’s growth is continuing in 2020, with the latest acquisition being the former TD Bank branch in Oakland where the company plans to open a new office

with drive through service as an added bonus for customers who want to make payments or perform other tasks without getting out of their cars. This move comes as the company’s headquarters building on Oak Street has become a humming command center filled with employees manning computers and phones and handling operations, sales and service across its entire distribution area.

Fabian Oil remains very much a family business. EJ continues to run the company; Ted is Vice President; Ted’s uncle, Mike, runs the fabrication shop and dispatches wholesale deliveries at night; and his cousin, Max, is operations manager.

The Fabians believe what sets the company apart is the quality of service the company offers and its ability to react quickly, as well as constant efforts company-wide to improve.

“We’re constantly challenging ourselves to stay ahead of the game, there are lot of very capable people in different departments here to keep us sharp and moving forward within the industry,” Ted said.

His father agreed, and said he never expected the company he founded way back in 1988 to turn into the major company it is today.

Fabian Continued Page 30

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Fabian

Continued from Page 29

“We’ve got a lot of great people that work for us, and that certainly helps,” EJ said.

From the very beginning, Fabian Oil has served Maine’s logging industry and continues to do so today. The company joined the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine as a Preferred Supporting Member in January 2019 and is proud to support the logging industry.

“It’s a great industry,” Ted said.

“It’s a pleasure for us to work with Maine family owned and operated businesses, we’ve formed long lasting relationships and hopefully we’re providing them with a service that helps them continue to move forward and prosper.”

There are certainly challenges every day in the business. Mild winters like the most recent one are not as profitable for the company as cold ones, and the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis is creating hurdles for the company just as it is for every other business.

Yet with a quality workforce and reputation, and a forward-looking leadership team, more growth appears likely and the future for Fabian looks bright.

“We have a really strong operations team and they’re constantly pushing the envelope to bring new ideas to the table and put us in a good spot,” Ted said. “As the industry changes and evolves there are opportunities that arise and if it makes sense for us we’ll definitely take a look at those, and also focus on current operations and organic growth as well.”

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Dale Bourgoin, Lead Driver for Fabian, filling up at the Fabian fuel depot in Oakland and making deliveries.

Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Legislative Breakfast 2020!

Thank you to all who attended the PLC's 2020 Legislative Breakfast Thursday March 5 at The Governor Hill Mansion in Augusta!

We had tremendous attendance from legislators, PLC Members, PLC Supporting Members, and other supporters of Maine's logging industry who took time out of their busy schedules to make the event a great success!

The PLC released results of a new economic impact study at the event that showed logging contributed $619 million to Maine's economy in 2017. The study, The Economic Contribution of Logging and Trucking in Maine, conducted by the University of Maine and the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center, also revealed that in 2017 logging supported approximately 9,366 Maine jobs either directly or indirectly, generated $342 million in labor income, and pumped an estimated $25 million into state and local tax coffers. You may read the full announcement on the study on page 33.

PLC Members sincerely appreciated the opportunity to meet and talk with their legislators and remind lawmakers why the logging industry is critical to Maine's future and deserves their support.

Thank you to our speakers at the event including Sherbey Morris of Morris Logging Inc. and Maine Speaker of the House Sara Gideon.

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

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The COVID-19 pandemic is creating many challenges for Maine's loggers and truckers. Information on this crisis is changing quickly, therefore the PLC is attempting to regularly inform the membership of the latest developments (see those at the time of this printing below) through a COVID19 Resource Page available online here: https://mailchi.mp/2ef471ed5b80/q3pacbw7i2 ❖ On April 3 the Small Business Administration (SBA) began accepting applications from small businesses for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). After a shaky rollout the program’s funding was quickly exhausted. At the time of this printing negotiations to appropriate additional funds for the program were underway. This program is part of the COVID -19 Stimulus Package or CARES Act. Businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with less than 500 employees qualify for the PPP. (If you maintain your workforce, SBA will forgive the portion of the loan proceeds that are used to cover the first 8 weeks of payroll and certain other expenses following loan origination). If you plan to apply for a loan, PLC encourages you to contact your lender to discuss the process immediately as interest in this option is high and funding could dry up quickly if more is appropriated. ❖ SBA Bridge Loans may be appropriate for some businesses to bridge the gap while they wait for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program. SBA Express Bridge Loans enable small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly. These loans can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

they are experiencing and can be a term loan or used to bridge the gap while applying for a direct SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan. Talk to your lender if interested in this option. ❖ On April 1, the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act went into effect. This federal Act requires some employers in Maine to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded medical leave for reasons related to COVID-19. ❖ Maine's Department of Labor has recommended that people file unemployment claims online with a computer as opposed to a smartphone and do so in the evening when internet traffic is less. To address high claims volume, those seeking to file for unemployment by calling the 800 number should use the following schedule: Last names beginning with A-H should call on Monday, with names beginning with I-Q on Tuesday; and those beginning with R-Z on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are left unassigned for those who miss their alphabetical day or need to call at that time. Those who are unable to connect with a claims representative at the times above by calling 1-800-593-7660 before 3 p.m. Monday through Friday should submit a message at www.maine.gov/labor/contact.

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

29

Safety Tailgate Meetings

By Donald Burr PLC Safety & Training Coordinator safety@maineloggers.com

OSHA 1910.266(i)(11) says that the “Employer shall hold safety and health meetings as necessary and at least each month for each employee.” These are commonly known as tailgate meetings. In this article I will discuss some guidelines for conducting these types of meetings.

Identify your topic. Pick a topic that can be handled in the time that you have, most tailgate type trainings typically should not last more than 15 minutes.

Pick a location that is conformable for the employee (on their turf).

When presenting make eye contact, be clear, have examples, ask for the employees input and be succinct.

Make sure the topic is relevant to your company today. Stay away from “sometime in future we will do,” types of statements in safety meetings.

Keep a record of what you do for topics so you can stay away from being redundant. OSHA has a list of topics that loggers need to train on, use this list to work

from but look for other ways to meet your company’s needs.

A written training certification record must be maintained by the employer and contain at least: The name or other identity of the employees trained, the date(s) of the training, the signature of the employer or the person(s) who conducted the training or the employer, and the date the employer determined that the training given prior to hiring the employee was adequate. [29 CFR 1910.266(i) (10)] If you are seeking a change in the way your company is handling safety be clear on what the expectations are going forward. a. If you get caught not following the new expectation, own it, don’t make excuses, don’t make light of it, just own it. Safety is process and we all fail, employees understand failing, what they don’t understand or respect is hypocrisy. b. Look for ways after to praise employees when the new expectations are being met or even exceeded.

DO

DON’T

▪ Limit sessions to no more than 15 minutes.

▪ Choose topics that relate to your operation.

▪ Use real life experience, draw from your employees for examples.

▪ Document (If you don’t document the training it did not happen in OSHA’s eyes).

▪ Conduct training sessions on Monday mornings.

▪ Speak in a manner workers won’t understand.

▪ Discourage employees from asking questions.

▪ Have a meeting in a noisy or distracting environment ▪ Make fun of your workers.

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Safety Ted Clark, CLCS, Loss Control Consultant, Acadia Insurance

Quarterly Safety Meeting: Fire on Logging Machinery 6. Standby at the machine. Fires have been Fire on logging machinery is a detrimental loss that known to rekindle on machinery up to several hours after has occurred since heavy machines first arrived in the the initial fire was presumed to be extinguished. After the woods. While manufacturers of equipment continue to fire appears to have been extinguished, make strides in fire suppression systems, you should wait at your machine with one thing that remains true is that, when additional hand held fire extinguishers a fire occurs, the operator taking until you are comfortable that it has been immediate and effective action can make completely extinguished. the difference between a machine that suffers zero to minor damage and a While the fire is taking place, machine that suffers a significant fire there is a lot of information that can be loss. Because of this fact, an occasional helpful in figuring out what caused the reminder to operators about how to fight fire to ignite. Below are some an equipment fire can be extremely helpful if a fire occurs. observations you can make to help investigators figure out While every situation is different, the following steps can the cause of the fire: be taken to help reduce the damage caused by a fire: 1. What color was the smoke? A surprising 1. Don’t get hurt. At the end of the day a machine amount of information can be gathered by the color of is replaceable but the operator is not. If the fire is too big or smoke. The color of the smoke can help point towards you are not comfortable that you can extinguish the fire where the fire ignited as well as what was fueling the fire. safely, you should stand back and take precautions to 2. What did you hear? You may hear an alarm prevent the fire from spreading onto the ground or other indicating the fire suppression system discharged. You may equipment in the area. It is not worth risking your safety to hear crackling, potentially pointing to an electrical extinguish a machine fire. problem. Simple observations like these can help 2. Call for help immediately. Tell other operators investigators find the cause of the fire. in the area what is going on and ask them to come help 3. What did you see? Note areas on the machine you. Often times the other machines can carry water or where you first see flames. Where was the fire most additional handheld fire extinguishers to assist in intense? What happened when the suppression system went extinguishing a fire. off?

3. Shut machine down by turning off the key, 4. Take a video or pictures. If you are no longer grounding out hydraulics and, if possible, shut off the able to fight the fire, and as long as it is safe to do so, master switch. Shutting the machine down completely and standing back and taking a video and/or photos can be grounding out the hydraulics will help you reduce the helpful to investigators. amount of additional fuel, such as oils, being introduced to Fires on machinery are hazardous and can cause the fire. Shutting the master switch off will help to remove significant downtime for a logging contractor. While a potential source of re-ignition. manufacturers of equipment and fire suppression systems 4. Activate your fire suppression system. If the continue to work diligently to prevent fires from ever system has not yet activated, you should immediately occurring, it remains true that as long as you are cutting activate it manually. Activating it manually can prevent the wood with machinery, fire is always going to be a fire from growing by suppressing it enough to allow you to possibility. Simple steps like those listed above can go a utilize a handheld extinguisher on remaining flames. It long way in preventing the severity of a fire and getting should be noted here that fire suppression systems may your machinery back to work quickly. differ in how they are activated and you should familiarize yourself with your own system before a fire occurs.

5. Get ready with your portable extinguishers.

A portable extinguisher, such as a loaded stream, can be Acadia is pleased to share this material for the benefit of its helpful in extinguishing a fire once it has been suppressed. customers. Please note, however, that nothing herein should be Most manufacturers recommend leaving the engine construed as either legal advice or the provision of professional compartment closed to prevent the fire from getting more consulting services. This material is for informational purposes oxygen while also allowing the suppression agent to do its only, and while reasonable care has been utilized in compiling job. Because of this, most equipment manufacturers have this information, no warranty or representation is made as to designated locations around the machine where you can accuracy or completeness. insert a fire extinguisher hose and discharge it.

*Meeting sign-in sheet on the back! Cut along dotted line to left to detach this section.

35

Safety

*This sign-in sheet is intended to be used with the quarterly Safety Training Topic on page 35. Refer to the cutline on page 35 when removing it from the magazine.

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

33

Maine’s Forest Rangers

By Jeffrey Currier Regional Forest Ranger Maine Forest Service

Mutual respect and trust define professional and meaningful relationships by allowing us to protect those things in life which are most valuable to us – our families, our homes, our environment, and each other. The relationship between Maine’s Forest Rangers and our state’s hard-working, dedicated, and professional loggers is an example of one grounded in these aspects of mutual respect and trust. Many would assume that there could be an adversarial relationship between our state’s forest rangers and our professional loggers. But the keyword in this last sentence is “professional.” Maine’s forest rangers are within the Forest Protection division of the Maine Forest Service. We, along with the Forest Management and Forest Health divisions take great pleasure in working with professionals who strive to be service-oriented to their landowner clients while conducting socially and environmentally responsible logging. Professional logging is an occupation steeped in our heritage and is a backbone of Maine’s history and our overall economy.

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

The role of a Maine Forest Ranger goes beyond the enforcement of laws regulating the activities of our state’s timber harvesting industry. It has expanded to the position of providing investigative and protective services for our state’s logging industry. No better example illustrating this is what we refer to as “timber asset security checks.”

These are highly visible, proactive, and frequent forest ranger patrol activities for the sole purpose of deterring and preventing the theft from and vandalism to costly logging equipment. Our forest rangers make it a priority all the time, but especially on weekends and holidays, to make visits to logging job sites to check on the security of the significant investments of Maine’s professional logging contractors. And when we speak of high visibility, we mean it. We want people to see us at these sites because we feel strongly about crime deterrence. We want those who know logging sites are excellent opportunities for theft and vandalism to think twice before making a wrong decision.

And we would like potential thieves, and the would-be

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

victim logging contractors who own the equipment, to see with declining numbers of firefighters, our wildfire that we have been there. As such, we leave ‘Forest Ranger response role is becoming more significant in rural Maine.

Courtesy Cards’ on select pieces of equipment to show our We also respond to fire incidents where logging equipment activities. Each year, we distribute tags on thousands of is involved. Our forest ranger patrol vehicles have water pieces of logging equipment in all areas of the state. The tanks aboard, and we have a strategically located force of response to this work has been very favorable, and we fire engines and large water tenders across Maine. Our appreciate the support for doing a part of our job that is helicopters are also a highly valuable initial attack resource.

Note that we plan to continue the fire prevention training of often unseen but is hugely important.

When a logging contractor is a victim of theft and PLC-Maine members. vandalism to their logging equipment, we consider In speaking of our helicopters, we are fortunate to ourselves a useful investigative resource. Over the last be able to provide the use of “helicopter short-haul rescue” several years, Maine’s Forest Rangers have taken a more techniques. We use this technique to insert forest rangers significant role in the investigation of these crimes. We into remote areas for wildfire response and to “points of take very seriously the impacts that even a simple injury” to extract people needing emergency medical vandalism case can have on an services. While most of our rescues operation’s production, not to have involved injured hikers, PLCmention the monetary loss in repairs Maine members should know that and replacement parts procurement. this resource is available to On the human side, we also consider wounded loggers and foresters in the the stress that these incidents can backcountry. Limitations on this life cause to contractors who manage this -saving service include an inability highly technical business, often to perform in some inclement operating on slim profit margins, and weather, and there are no shortthat is regularly under significant hauls at night. time quotas for deliveries. Learning As mentioned earlier, that Maine forest rangers training Maine’s forest rangers are grateful includes evidence recovery and for the support we receive from PLC interview/interrogation might be a -Maine. No more magnificent surprise to some. We are trained and example of this is the legislative equipped to collect fingerprints and testimony that was given by PLCeven DNA evidence. We work Maine Executive Director, Dana closely with the Maine State Police Doran, earlier this Spring: “From Crime Lab, and we can point to our perspective, the Forest Service numerous examples of cases where provides vital fire suppression we have successfully prosecuted services for our members and their those who have chosen to victimize equipment. The quick work of their professional loggers. Our Division’s group could save millions of dollars Forensic Specialist, Ranger Steve of investment for family-based Ranger Steve Wipperman is a Forensic Wipperman, is an associate member businesses. They also provide rescue Specialist and associate member of the of the Maine State Police Evidence and medevac services in difficult to Maine State Police Evidence Recovery Recovery Team. Ranger Wipperman reach places. With the ability to Team. has received national recognition for short-haul, they can deliver rescue his work, is a fully certified evidence personnel, including a paramedic, recovery technician and he has cleared some of our most directly to the point of injury and lift an injured logger to a complex logging theft and vandalism cases in Northern spot where an ambulance or LifeFlight can take them to the Maine. Also, Ranger Wipperman teaches our entire forest hospital. And lastly, the Forest Service provides critical ranger force regularly in these essential skills and has asset security checks and you will see them on the mentored future forensics specialists. weekends making sure that there is not theft or any damage Maine’s Forest Rangers are well known as first done to our members equipment. We take that very responders for our primary mission of wildfire control. We seriously, and we thank them very much for that work.” have statewide jurisdiction and authority for wildfires in all The relationship between our agency and Maine’s areas of the state. In our state’s unorganized territories, professional loggers is a strong one because it is grounded accounting for 46% of our state’s total land area, we are in the tenets of mutual respect and trust. We consider it a solely responsible for wildfire control (*another 10% of pleasure to have such a strong relationship with these Maine are municipalities without fire departments). And as professionals, and we are confident that it will not only the municipal fire service in Maine continues to struggle sustain, but grow moving forward.

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

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Introducing your District Foresters Meet Mike Richard West Paris District Forester

It’s always a good time to ask: “Do you know who your District Forester is?” There are normally 10 District Foresters, covering the entire state of Maine.

District Foresters are the Maine Forest Service’s point persons for contact with woodland owners, loggers and foresters, and the citizenry at large. District Foresters lead educational workshops and woods tours, talk to school children and community groups, and work with private foresters and loggers to implement good woodland management. Most important, they can meet with you in your woods, and help you take the next step to achieve your goals for your land.

Mike Richard, West Paris Mike Richard is the Maine Forest Service’s West Paris District Forester, covering Oxford county. A resident of Albany Township, Mike has lived in Western Maine for the past 7 years.

He is a graduate from the University of New Hampshire’s Thompson School of Applied Science Forest Technology program and continued his studies to receive his bachelor’s degree in Forestry from UNH as well.

Prior to his current position, Mike worked as a forester for logging companies in Oxford County. He was also an operations forester with a timber investment firm in Northern New Hampshire/Western Maine. He has worked as both an intern and seasonal employee of the United States Forest Service in research projects and on the White Mountain National Forest’s timber program.

Mike is also a Maine licensed arborist and prior to working as a forester, climbed for multiple tree service companies in the region. He loves to share his passion for forestry and is always happy to help folks in need of the MFS’s help or input. When not at work Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and son, hiking, fly fishing and playing the guitar and banjo.

Mike's contact information and the towns he covers can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/ policy_management/ff/wm_df.html As always, you can call the Maine Forest Service for more information or assistance at (207) 287-2791, or e-mail forestinfo@maine.gov Information on District Foresters can be found at: www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/policy_management/ district_foresters.html

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

District Forester Mike Richard, above and at left.

Thank you to the Maine Forest Service for contributing this article and photos.

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Controlling Water at the Harvest Site

By Tom Gilbert Water Resources Specialist Maine Forest Service

As we move into the spring field season, the Maine Forest Service is developing a new series of “Level 1” BMP trainings which put extra emphasis on controlling water and minimizing disturbance at the harvest site. These are 2 of the 7 “fundamental BMPs” we have focused on in past trainings and are also mentioned in our BMP manual. Some of the main concepts in controlling water at the harvest site include: ▪ Understanding how water moves within the harvest area, and decide on control measures; ▪ Installing a system throughout the site to slow down runoff and spread it out; ▪ Reducing water velocity and volume (“The 2 Vs”); and ▪ Protecting the natural movement of water through wetlands if they must be crossed.

Site topography is an important consideration, since water will gain momentum as it travels down steeper slopes. The more velocity water gains, the more soil will erode. Keep in mind there are always water inputs upslope.

Also keep in mind that it is easier and more effective to control water in small amounts. This can be done by installing effective BMPs in the right locations throughout the site. By managing water in small volumes throughout the site, and diverting it to undisturbed forested areas, you are greatly reducing erosion potential.

The diagram demonstrates how runoff is

diverted into undisturbed forested areas in small volumes throughout the site. Several types of structures are used to divert runoff in many locations, preventing runoff from gaining volume or velocity so the forest floor is able to absorb the water. Note that in all examples, water is diverted outside of the buffer, represented by lines located along the stream channel. Buffer areas are in place as a last line of defense. It’s the system of BMPs used throughout the site that keep our water clean.

Minimizing or avoiding impacts to wetlands is another way to reduce the volume and velocity of water at your harvest site. Wetlands contain a large amount of water in the soil, so driving through them with machinery will compact the soil and displace water, which may then travel to other locations of your harvest site. If a wetland cannot be avoided, minimizing impacts with corduroy and culverts as needed will reduce water displacement by increasing bearing capacity and allowing for the natural movement of water.

I hope to catch up with everyone during our Level 1 BMP training sessions this spring to discuss these and other topics in more detail.

Until then stay safe!

For more information on fundamental forestry BMPs please see our field friendly BMP manual, Protecting Maine’s Water Quality, available on our website: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/ policy_management/water_resources/ bmps.html

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

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Winter Camp 2020!

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

Pictures, above and opposite, from the Jan. 13 visit by UMaine Forest Operations Winter Camp 2020 students to job sites of PLC Members Kimball and Sons Logging and Trucking in Poland and Trees LTD. in Starks.

It was a great day with the students and an opportunity for them to see and hear from professional Maine loggers.

Thanks to UMaine for the opportunity and to our members for hosting!

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

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As We See It: February 2020

By Dave Duren This past year the conversation in So, I’m driving south bound on U.S. 59, just several people’s minds has been, “where are we going to entering the city limits of Diboll, and on the left, behind find enough trucks to log the mills?” Truck safety is the car/truck fuel convenient station, sits a state trooper unit with a loaded log truck. Curiosity gets the better of being preached basically from shore to shore in the hopes of stabilizing rising insurance rates threatening the me, so I made a U-turn to check it out. profitability of logging contractors.

I recognize the trooper as one who presents in How long do you have to dance with a gorilla? logger training and education for the Texas Logging Until the gorilla slams you down, or gently releases you.

Council (TLC), and I pull up beside him as he was walking alongside the log truck trailer. I greet the trooper Sometimes, it’s hard to tell who the gorilla is. and ask him how he was doing; you know, the typical cordial greeting. However, since he knows what the TLC Dave Duren is the Coordinator of the Texas is trying to do to promote truck safety, he voluntarily Logging Council. The Texas Logging Council is an gives me a few details about the stop. He does not name affiliation of private business men and women who make anyone, and I don’t even think there is a company name their living from the harvesting and delivery of wood on the side of the door. It’s just another log truck going fiber to forest products mills all over East Texas. Their through a typical inspection. purpose is to improve and expand the use of professional What I learned about the incident really begs the logging and trucking practices responsive to the needs of question, HOW and WHY does this stuff keep customers, employees, landowners and the general happening? For three years I’ve been the TLC’s public; to provide educational training for members coordinator and heard this statement numerous times, within the logging and hauling professions; and to “so and so isn’t pro logger trained, doesn’t have the improve upon worker safety. proper insurance, and yet they roll into these mills just like the rest of us.”

What am I talking about with my question? It turns out the driver of this truck did not have a proper driver’s license and, by the way, didn’t have one the last time he was stopped in the same truck by the same trooper a month or so ago. The truck and trailer were not registered, and there was no insurance. With the appearance of the tires and the apparent lack of maintenance, I would not have been caught dead in that truck.

Two things are happening here. The State has a revolving door policy when it comes to removing unlicensed drivers from the highways, and some of the area mills have a “look the other way policy,” because they are certainly not checking anything.

Locally owned and family run since 1925 We are here for all your insurance needs—focusing on Logging, Lumbering & Trucking Farmington: (207) 778-9862 Skowhegan: (207) 474-9561 Rumford: (207) 369-0171 Livermore Falls: (207) 897-3602

We Support Maine Loggers 44

Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

“Insurance is our only Business” - www.kyesinsurance.com

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

As We See It March 2020

By Shannon Jarvis A heart felt thank you to the 580 logging professionals throughout the United States who took the Shannon Jarvis is the current President of the time to complete the 1st ever American Loggers American Loggers Council and owner of Jarvis Timber Council Logger Survey that began in November 2019 Company, LLC based in Potosi, Missouri. and concluded on December 31, 2019.

The 34 questions that appeared in the survey were primarily designed by our many sponsors in an effort to help them, and us, better understand the current state of the industry and what we could all do better to represent those that are gainfully employed in this profession that we call “logging.”

You have given us a glimpse of your needs to move forward with a successful operation as well as helped us all to rethink our priorities based on the issues that you believe are having the greatest impact on your ability to run your business.

We will begin posting the results of 2 to 3 survey questions with the results per week on our social media (Facebook©) page, American Loggers Council, and ask that you please provide comments on those results.

A lot of the questions were cut-and-dry yes/no or A,B,C,D answer requests, but if you have further comments, we would like to hear from you. The American Loggers Council is currently setting priorities for the next several years and we want to make certain that those priorities are aligned with those that we represent. While we can’t do much about the price of diesel or weather-related downtime, working together we can try and help implement change that will produce greater efficiencies and an improved operating environment for you, the professional logger and log hauler.

Thank you for all of you that support the American Loggers Council, and we look forward to serving you for years to come.

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

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As We See It April 2020 “Meeting Essential Needs During a Global Pandemic”

By Nick Smith COVID-19 is challenging our society in many ways. Today we appreciate the men and women who are serving on the front lines of this epidemic and making personal sacrifices to provide care to those in need.

Judging by shortages of medical supplies and many household items, the epidemic should give us an appreciation for the basic resources we depend on- and those who provide them.

Foresters and loggers practiced social distancing long before the pandemic response required it. But there are good reasons why the U.S. Department of Homeland Security identified the forest sector as an essential critical infrastructure workforce as the nation responds to COVID19. Those who harvest, manufacture and transport woodbased products are helping ensure our medical professionals, first-responders and the rest of us have the essentials we need to weather this crisis.

These essentials include, but are not limited to: • Masks • Filters • Tissue papers

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

• Disinfecting wipes • Cleaning products • Cellulose-based pill fillers • Latex gloves and other protective products • Wood pallets to move food, medical supplies and other critical goods • Lumber and plywood for emergency structures and shelters • Fuel for energy production and heating We are all in this together. We all have a role to play, even if that is simply staying home and staying healthy to protect others. Our forests and those who work in the woods are also doing their jobs, and hopefully our society will remember our important connection to this natural resource long after our nation has recovered.

Nick Smith is Executive Director of Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities.

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

TCNEF launches NE Safe Logger Certified company, $150 if they are an employee of a member company of the Professional Logging Contractors (PLC) of Maine, and $300 for all others.

The initial credential provided by successful completion of the training is good for two years. To obtain requalification for an individual, the individual must work for a Northeast Master Logger Certified company and must submit proof of completion of one of several approved requalification training programs to the TCNEF. Companies may contact TCNEF for more information on becoming a Master Logger Certified company.

Companies may choose to enroll an employee in additional training on topics that are not covered in the initial training or on a topic that the employee may need additional training on. These courses may qualify for the OSHA “training” standard – 1910.266(i) – (Training of an employee due to unsafe job performance, or assignment of new work tasks, tools, equipment, machines or vehicles) and may be used toward requalification.

Topics covered in the training include: If an employee has already gone through an entry level training program and needs assistance with a subject, •Bloodborne Pathogens companies can also buy access to one course at a time.

•Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid Companies may contact the TCNEF for a list of over 400 •Fire extinguisher safety additional topics.

•Fire Safety For more information on NE Safe Logger go to http:// •Hazard Communication www.tcnef.org/nesafelogger/, email: •Hearing Conservation safety@maineloggers.com or call 207-688-8195 opt. 2. To •Industrial Ergonomics enroll in the program, go to http://www.tcnef.org/registration•Materials Handling form/ •Sexual harassment The Northeast Master Logger Certification Program •Hand and portable powered tools was created in 2001 by the Professional Logging Contractors •Daily Inspection of mandatory PPE, ROPS / FOPS, of Maine (PLC) as the first in the world point-of-harvest Seatbelts •Walking and working surfaces certification program, offering third party independent •Serviceable condition certification of logging companies’ harvesting practices. In •Mounting steps and handholds 2003, the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine created •Separation of operations The TCNEF to administer the program with the broader goal •Visual or audible communications between of “enhancing the health of working forest ecosystems through employees •Overhead electric lines exceptional accountability” throughout the Northern Forest •Environmental conditions region.

•Safety and health hazards In November 2019, the TCNEF was named a •Flammable and combustible liquids recipient of a 2019 Leadership Award from the Forest •Lock Out / Tag Out for logging equipment Stewardship Council (FSC) for its work administering the The “certified logger” rate for workers’ compensation Northeast Master Logger Certification Program and managing an FSC®-certified group of family woodlands. insurance in Maine offers significant savings. Companies For more information on the Northeast Master Logger should contact their insurance company directly for more Certification program or TCNEF, contact Ted Wright at (207) information.

688-8195 opt.

2 or executivedirector@tcnef.org. Additional The cost for an individual to enroll in the training is information is also available at www.tcnef.org $100 if they are an employee of a Northeast Master Logger AUGUSTA - The Trust to Conserve Northeast Forestlands (TCNEF) has launched a new online safety and workers comp. compliance training program for loggers that will offer significant insurance savings for those businesses whose employees successfully complete the training.

Northeast (NE) Safe Logger is an entry level program created by loggers for loggers. Affordable, efficient and relevant, it will allow participants to obtain the discounted “certified logger” rate for workers’ compensation insurance in the state of Maine. The program is being launched in Maine first, and will be expanded to other Northeast states in the future.

NE Safe Logger offers 16 hours of interactive online training available on a computer, tablet or smart phone that can be completed at the user’s own pace anytime day or night. The training can be saved and restarted at any time during a 14-day training period.

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Winter Spring 2018 2020

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Congressional Delegation Updates Tariff Relief for the Hardwood Industry

One Trade Deal. In general, I have supported this deal as it works to protect U.S. industry and jobs and promote economic growth. In February 2020, in order to comply with the purchase agreements included in the deal, the Chinese The harm many Maine businesses have experienced due to the government announced that it would remove U.S. hardwood lumber import tariffs for one year. This includes cherry, ash, ongoing trade dispute between the oak and other lumber and logs. In addition, the Chinese United States and China has been a government committed to refunding Chinese companies the reminder of how reliant many tariffs they have been charged on some species of hardwoods industries and jobs are on the global economy. Though our forest products over the past couple of years.

This is a positive development for the industry and industry remains rooted in our rural economy in Maine, market disruptions could help companies begin to see some relief. I also recognize, however, that challenges remain. As the National Sen. Susan Collins around the world can have a severe effect on companies in our great state. Hardwood Lumber Association notes, “work is underway to define exactly what [the Chinese government’s Two years ago, China imposed retaliatory tariffs on announcement] will mean for these products and what the hardwood lumber it imported from the U.S. Previously, China accounted for approximately half of all U.S. hardwood definite tariff rate will be moving forward.”

Throughout Maine’s history, our forest products lumber exports, about $2 billion annually. In the 12 months industry has helped drive local economies and provided goodsince tariffs on U.S. hardwood were announced in July of paying jobs in our rural communities. I will continue to 2018, lumber exports to China were down by $615 advocate for fair policies that will help the forest products million. This action flooded the domestic market for this product, negatively affecting companies in Maine. Businesses industry thrive in Maine. I also remain committed to working with the industry to help increase innovation in order to meet have continued to see price cuts and a lack of demand for the challenges and opportunities of the their products.

In January 2020, the U.S. and China signed the Phase 21st Century. know this feels counterintuitive— why would we not want to check in on our most vulnerable citizens during a crisis? But the fact is, more contacts for vulnerable people means more opportunities for them to catch the disease. For the moment, stick to phone calls or video chats. If you have elderly neighbors or loved ones, check on them remotely, and see if they need help picking up groceries or other pressing needs.

Sen. Angus King 1.

If you’re sick, stay home. Probably the most obvious 7.

Think about your local step you can take, but it’s so important that it’s worth businesses. Order take-out or delivery from restaurants; a call repeating. to your bookstore can get you a book as quickly as any on2.

If you’re worried you might have coronavirus, call line service; local retailers can put items aside for you for pick your doctor. Don’t just go into your doctor’s office without giving them a heads up. Call your doctor first, tell them what -up. A little extra love now can go a long way toward ensuring these local cornerstones will be there when this is symptoms you’re experiencing, and work with them on a plan. If you can’t reach your doctor or don’t have one, call the behind us.

When in doubt, listen to the experts. The most-up-toMaine coronavirus hotline at 2-1-1 to connect with someone 8. date information and guidance is constantly evolving, so it’s who can lay out next steps. important to check for updates. The Maine Center for Disease 3.

Even if you’re not sick, stay home as much as you can.

Control and Prevention and the Governor are monitoring this 4.

Wash your hands — a lot. This one is simple, but it’s situation closely, so check in on the Maine CDC’s website so important. Wash your hands often, for 20 seconds, with and call 2-1-1 if you have questions. Also — the national soap and hot water. If you’re not sure how to measure 20 CDC has collected many helpful resources and guidelines seconds, sing a song — if you sing “Sixteen Counties” on the at coronavirus.gov. slow side, you’ll be all set!

5.

Keep your distance in social settings – six feet is the This is a challenging time – but one we will get rule! (If you’re having trouble visualizing six feet, keep one through, together. Be safe, be smart, and I look forward to moose in between you and the nearest person.) seeing you soon!

6.

Limit visits to nursing homes and elderly relatives. I I’m always working to support and advance Maine’s forest economy in Washington, and nothing can take away that focus on supporting your work for our state – but for this quarter’s edition of the Maine Logger, I felt I needed to contribute a different type of column than normal. In a moment like this, it’s important to take every step we can to confront the challenges created by the coronavirus epidemic.

Washington is sending help to combat this virus, but it’s up to us to stop the spread; here are a few simple and immediate things we can all do to help slow the spread of coronavirus in our communities.

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine

Loggers Serving Loggers Since 1995

As Maine and our nation face many unknowns in responding to the coronavirus pandemic, I want to assure you that my staff and I are working tirelessly to support every Mainer during this unprecedented crisis, including the folks in the forestry and logging industry.

I am including in this column some resources that may be of use to you as we weather this storm. However, information is constantly changing, so I am updating Rep. Chellie Pingree pingree.house.gov/coronavirus as much as possible to reflect our response in Congress.

Congress must work to deliver significant funding and support packages to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak. As of this writing, we’ve passed two bills; one, a $8.3 billion emergency package to invest in state, local, and tribal public health agencies and develop a vaccine; the second, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, makes coronavirus testing free for most patients, assisted the SBA in creating low interest emergency loans , enhanced unemployment insurance, and we strengthened food security by removing USDA barriers. Both were signed into law by the President.

Because of efforts passed in the Families First bill, if your employment situation changes in the coming weeks or months due to coronavirus, please contact the Maine Department of Labor to discuss the expanded eligibility for unemployment insurance. This site is accessible at maine.gov/unemployment.

Likewise, the Maine Department of Economic Development has been great at providing comprehensive information for businesses and self-employ individuals. Please visit maine.gov/

decd.

The coronavirus is tightening its grip on the economy in all parts of our state. In Maine, loggers are a key part of the supply chain and have been working to expand the markets for their forest products for years. But when demand dries up from small businesses in the middle of the supply chain — sawmills and smaller paper mills, for example — loggers are likely to see shrinking markets and reduced demand for their goods as well.

This is a time of uncertainty for everyone.

Our country hasn’t seen Rep. Jared Golden anything like this virus in over a century and no one knows for sure how bad it will be, both for our public health and for our economy. I don’t have all the answers, but my staff and I can help small businesses and their workers navigate the federal resources available to them. That’s why I’ve been reaching out to Maine paper mills and sawmills to understand the challenges they are facing in trying to make payroll and maintain their operations as well as making sure they know about the federal grants, low-interest loans, and other tools that can help them weather these challenging times.

If your logging or forest products business is struggling due to the coronavirus, we urge you to reach out to our office for

help. My office has set up a small business response team that specializes in working with Maine small businesses to navigate the federal resources available to them. You can email us at smallbizresponseteam@mail.house.gov. Usually they get back to you within 24 hours. We’ve also created a Small Business Resource Guide that answers many of the questions we’ve been hearing from the small businesses we work with and can help you start the application process. The guide can be found at: golden.house.gov/covid-19/small-business-resource-guide I know loggers and forest products industry workers are struggling as well. Whether you’ve been laid-off, had your hours cut, or are taking time off to care for a family member, the coronavirus is having a real impact on workers in logging communities. On top of the economic impact payments of $1,200 that Congress passed, there are additional resources we can help you and your family access to weather this economic downturn.

If we can’t help you or answer your questions, we’ll connect you with someone who can.

Contact our nearest office at the numbers listed below:

If you are a small business owner, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is issuing Economic Injury Disaster Loans for the state of Maine. Many Maine businesses are having to close their doors or suffer significant loss of revenue due to this pandemic. If you fall into that category, you can apply for a targeted, low-interest loan by visiting disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

I know that more work is needed to support Mainers and their businesses in these uncertain times. I am working with my fellow Members of Congress to pass a third coronavirus response bill, this time with targeted financial relief for workers and the small businesses impacted. We must provide zero-interest loans, loan forgiveness, and more flexible terms on these working capital loans for Maine’s small businesses. Businesses need the resources to keep their doors open now, without having to worry about burdensome interest payments in the future.

Perhaps if there is one thing to hold top of mind during this crisis, it is the resiliency of Mainers and our forest products industry. Having faced losses and sudden downturns before, you more than most are an industry of people who harness the tenacity of a Maine forest and turn it into opportunity. The demand for Maine paper products in some sectors has risen in part due to this crisis, and our famous Yankee work ethic is not disappointing those customers as you continue to produce necessary consumer goods.

As we face this crisis together, know that protecting the health and economic livelihood of every Mainer is my number one priority. There is not a single person in our state who hasn’t felt the impact of this pandemic. I am here to support you, so please contact my office if there is anything I can do to keep you or your families safe and healthy during this time. The number for my Portland office is (207) 774-5019.

Bangor Office: 6 State Street, Bangor ME 04401. Phone: (207) 249-7400 Caribou Office: 7 Hatch Drive, Suite 230, Caribou ME 04736.

Phone: (207) 492-6009 Lewiston Office: 179 Lisbon Street, Lewiston ME 04240.

Phone: (207) 241-6767

The Logger’s Voice ▪ Spring 2020

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The Logger’s Voice ▪ Winter 2018

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Professional Logging Contractors of Maine 108 Sewall St. P.O. Box 1036 Augusta, ME 04332