Logging is a historic industry that involves the cutting, processing, and moving of trees into lumber, paper, energy, or other wood-based products. It’s one of the most dangerous industries given the scope of the work.
That’s why it’s important for loggers to stay safe no matter what. Here are some of the best ways to improve safety in logging to reduce workplace accidents and improve the overall safety culture of any logging camp.
Be Cautious of Your Surroundings
Since logging is an outdoor and indoor profession, it’s important to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. Otherwise, careless workers are the most susceptible to onsite injuries. Trees are large, heavy objects that can cause serious harm if accidents occur. Sometimes, these injuries further result in fatal consequences. Therefore, always pay attention to where trees fall. Be aware of your general surroundings to ensure no onsite issues occur.
Use Safety Training Programs
While everyone should understand the basic training requirements of their work, safety training programs help keep everyone in line with these responsibilities. Basically, safety training programs are designed to improve workplace efficiency and reduce OSHA violations. They further enhance the safety culture of the workplace while also protecting important assets, like workers and equipment. Safety programs help every industry, but they can especially improve the safety culture of logging camps given the intense work involved.
Maintain Equipment
Logging requires heavy-duty machinery to perform the basic functions. Whether this involved tree-length logging, whole-tree logging, or cut-to-length logging, heavy machinery ensures seamless cutting and processing. This includes skidders, log loaders, swing machines, wood choppers, harvesters, stump shredders, mulchers, and more. Perform preventative maintenance on a regular basis to ensure each piece of equipment performs as expected. Regular maintenance further reduces chances of onsite injuries for operators.
Use Personal Protection
Another one of the best ways to improve safety in logging is to use personal protection. Every industry has its own personal protection equipment for workers. In logging, this typically includes logging boots, safety shirts, headlamps, long pants, work gloves, safety vests, hard hats, and safety glasses. Each piece of personal protection equipment is meant to reduce serious injury for workers. Always wear yours to stay safe on the job.
