AWARD-WINNING TRAINING SINCE 1995
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 The tragic accident that caused the deaths of 12 men at the Sago Mine in West Virginia a few weeks ago and the accident that found two more miners lost last week, is a sad reminder of just how dangerous the mining occupation is to those employed in the sector. Yet most people would be surprised to know that the mortality rate among timber producers, 85 per 100,000 workers (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004), makes logging one of the most dangerous jobs in America. And despite the fact that fatalities among this high-risk occupation decreased since the last BLS-issued report in 2003, loggers are still nearly 30 percent more likely to die on the job than the average U.S. worker. “This is a statistic we want to see decrease to zero,” says Larry Boccarossa, Executive Director of the Arkansas Timber Producers Association (ATPA), noting there are more than 5,000 timber producers operating in Arkansas. “The loss of even one logger to an on-the-job accident is one too many as far as we are concerned.” Logger Rescue Workshops Offered in February To address the issue of safety on the jobsite, the ATPA-administered Ark Pro Logger program offers ongoing training opportunities in the areas of first aid, timber harvesting and transportation safety, OSHA compliance and advanced response. Next month, Ark Pro Logger is offering free of charge in-woods safety and emergency response training to loggers and forestry professionals. Workshops are scheduled for February 9, in Monticello, February 10 in Antoine and February 11 in Prescott, with training provided by Dana Hinkley, founder of the renowned Berlin, New Hampshire-based Logger Rescue Program. “This valuable training not only provides participants with basic strategies for prevention of accidents and fatalities, but it also prepares loggers to respond to emergency situations until the local fire and rescue personnel arrive on the scene, “ says ATPA Director of Logger Training George Lease. “This level of preparedness protects both the patient and the rescuers from becoming victims themselves,” he adds. Hinkley, a second-generation professional logger and a retired fire chief with extensive EMS experience, brings a wealth and breadth of knowledge on the subject of jobsite safety. He has witnessed in his 25-year career what he says are far too many tragedies in the woods – uniquely from both vantage points – working alongside loggers who have suffered injury, and in an emergency response capacity. His combined background and interests, coupled with a desire to prevent other such accidents and fatalities among those in the logging occupation, prompted Hinkley to establish Logger Rescue 15 years ago. When he started out, Hinkley offered standard workshops on safety and first aid. As the need for training grew so did his company, and he began offering tailored and advanced training to not only the logging and forestry professions, but other high-risk occupations as well. In the last 6 years, Logger Rescue has been an integral component of the Ark Pro Logger workshop offerings, with more than 20 workshops held and an estimated 552 logging contractors and crewmembers in Arkansas and adjacent states benefiting from the intensive training Hinkley has provided. “There are common sense approaches to safety that loggers often fail to implement that could mean the difference between life and death if someone incurs an injury in the woods,” says Hinkley. Some simple yet effective strategies include marking a logger’s entrance into the woods at the road so emergency personnel can locate the injured party. GPS units, detailed logs of jobsite locations, trail markers and the use of communication devices, are just some examples of methods of preparedness that can lead to the improvement of response efforts in case of emergency. “Having first aid tools and gear on hand, as well as knowing basic first response techniques, are also critical in caring for the injured until help arrives,” notes Hinkley. Loggers and forestry professionals interested in participating in the February Logger Rescue training can call ATPA toll-free at 1-888-403-2232 for info and registration. Questions regarding the award-winning Ark Pro Logger training program can be directed to George Lease at that number or via the program website at www.arkloggers.com. |
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