Safety

Ted Clark, CLCS, Loss Control Consultant, Acadia Insurance Quarterly Safety Meeting: Slips and Falls in the Logging Industry

Production is critical to the lifeblood of a logging company, so it’s important to recognize the cost and loss of production associated with seemingly simple incidents like a slip, trip or fall. With all the uncertainty in the industry today, it seems trivial to worry about something as simple as a slip and fall, but it’s a hazard that increases significantly with the ice and long hours that accompany the winter months and the costs can be detrimental to the profitability of the business.

The injuries that occur can have severe, lasting effects and can affect your enjoyment of both your work life and your personal life. Implementing some simple changes can have a dramatic effect on your exposure to these types of injuries.

SPECIFIC AREAS, DIFFERENT APPROACH

Three points of contact is an industry buzz word that continues to ring true. When climbing on and off vehicles and equipment, you should keep both hands free so you can always have three limbs in contact with the machine. This means that you should set your lunch box and coffee into the cab from the ground before climbing up into the machine – rather than attempting to climb into the cab with your hands full.

There is no arguing that forestry equipment can be relatively less user friendly when it comes to getting into the cab or accessing the engine compartments. Some of the best solutions we have found are from companies who encourage their operators to come up with ideas on how to prevent slips and make access easier. Typically, these changes are as simple as adding a step or hand hold with some scrap metal and a couple hours labor. If you have an idea for a way to improve access, please bring it to your supervisor’s attention.

Truck drivers and machine operators are perhaps the most common demographic that experiences injuries from slips on a logging operation. In a typical scenario, the employee jumps out of the warm cab into the freezing cold, they are in a hurry, and they have been sitting in the seat for potentially hours. As soon as they get out they start working, such as hurling 50 feet of nylon or cable over a load or replacing a hydraulic line that just blew. The ground and equipment are covered in glare ice, and when the employee moves their body they slip and fall and get hurt. How do we prevent this? First, we need to understand what causes accidents like these. Without going into excruciating detail, when you sit in the same position for an extended period of time (like a truck or machine seat), your body’s muscles stretch into that position and become tense.

When you jump out and start performing physical labor, your muscles haven’t had a chance to warm up, which can significantly decrease your ability to stay on your feet and increases your chances of being injured when you take a fall. Your best defense from slip injuries is to implement a basic stretch program where you take a minute and stretch your back out when you exit the truck or machine. This may not prevent the fall itself, but it can significantly reduce the chance of being injured when you do take the fall.

Your Feet Count

It shouldn’t go unsaid that there are some manufactured options that can assist in reducing the likelihood of a slip, trip or fall. This includes things such as cleats designed to fit over your boot that will increase traction.

It’s important to consider what you are wearing on your feet. Logger style boots with the elevated heels on them are not great in the winter. The soles are much harder than a traditional boot and the style gives you little control over weight distribution when on ice. A more traditional style work boot with a lower heel and a softer sole can be a better option. There are a lot of options out there for boots, and you should spend some time researching which will best suit your needs for winter.

Conclusion

This safety meeting has presented a few different ideas that have been implemented in the field and could be effective in helping you prevent accidents from occurring. Slips, trips and falls are something that has haunted the logging industry since the first time an ax was placed to wood. In order to prevent slips, trips and falls, you need to start with the recognition that the way you have always dealt with the issue may not be the best way. Listen to your employees, learn from others, and don’t be afraid to try something out of the box. It just may work.

Acadia is pleased to share this material for the benefit of its customers. Please note, however, that nothing herein should be construed as either legal advice or the provision of professional consulting services. This material is for informational purposes only, and while reasonable care has been utilized in compiling this information, no warranty or representation is made as to accuracy or completeness.