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• Safety Stats
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By Scott Davidson, ManagerSafety News

On March 16 we started up the chop line again at Millworks. We have 350,000 fbm of green cedar 2 X 6 shop and better to chop into clear cut stock and finger joint blocks. We can chop approximately 20,000 fbm per 10 hour day, so this will take us to mid April. The majority of the cut stock is getting container packaged and shipped to Belgium. Other orders are destined to be shipped to Australia. The entire crew is focused on the quality of the finished product as this is what will lead to future orders. After the cedar, we will continue on with hemlock orders we started in January.

The bevel line is down now, but I getting hints of increased activity in the bevel market.

Let’s hope that the downtime, along with old man winter is behind us for awhile.

Ladder Safety

Taken from the Canada Safety Council  Canada’s Voice and Resource for Safety.

With springtime here many of us will be outside tuning up the yard and house using all sorts of tools.  Ladders are one tool that can be very useful in getting to those hard to reach places.  Following is a short quiz that outlines the basics of ladder safety.

Test your knowledge of ladder safety

Ladders are the largest tool in the house. They are essential for trimming trees, painting, cleaning and many other necessary tasks. However, falls from ladders at home lead to thousands of injuries every year. True or false?

1) Today’s ladders are designed so they can safely be used on unstable or slippery surfaces.
    True False
2) You can reach up to one metre upwards or to the side of the ladder.
     True False
3) It is safe to stand as high as the second rung from the top of a straight or extension ladder.
     True False
4) Using the right ladder for the job is critical for safety.
     True False
5) When climbing up or down, face the ladder and hold the rungs with both hands.
     True False

Answers to Ladder Quiz

1. False
Always make sure the ladder is on a firm, level surface and all locks are engaged.

2. False
Stretching and leaning to the side is a leading cause of falls. Move the ladder to reach your work.

3.False
For an extension ladder, the highest safe standing level is the fourth rung. For a stepladder, stand no higher than the second rung from the top.

4. True
The maximum load a ladder can safely handle is called its duty rating. To determine the proper ladder size, subtract the climber’s height from the height of the job. Use the right type of ladder for the job; for example, don’t try to use a stepladder as an extension ladder. Last but not least, make sure the ladder is in good repair.

5. True
Your body should be centered between the side rails. Maintain a firm grip and use both hands when climbing. Slip-resistant shoes are also recommended.

Spotter hit by grapple when working in blind conditions

A grapple yarder operator was removing logs from a hillside. A new worker was the spotter, directing the placement of the grapple by radio. Two logs were yarded after the spotter attached a choker cable. The spotter then attempted to remove a log from within a retention patch of brush and saplings. The operator could not see the log or the spotter. The spotter had no training or experience working with grapples in blind conditions.

When the spotter asked the operator to swing the grapple, the operator made one blind throw without confirming the spotter's position. When the spotter asked for the grapple to be moved a bit more, the operator immediately did so. However, the spotter was not in the clear. He was hit by the grapple or choker cable and died of his injuries.

Safe work practices:

• Never move the grapple in blind conditions without confirming that the spotter is in a safe position.
• Make sure you are in the clear before giving the go-ahead signal.
• Develop safe work procedures for moving the grapple in blind conditions.
• Train all workers in the required communication procedures.
• Provide new workers with adequate instruction on how to keep themselves in safe positions when they are working around yarding equipment.
• Demonstrate the work task or process for new workers so that they are aware of hazards and can perform the work safely.

Good effective safety communication is everyone’s responsibility