Fatalities and serious injuries are at an unacceptably high level in the B.C. forest industry. Work-related accidents resulted in 43 fatalities and 106 serious injuries in 2005.

The Ministry of Forests and Range, including BC Timber Sales, is committed to improving forest safety and safe worksites. The ministry subscribes to the Health and Safety Accord of the British Columbia Forest Industry, which states that serious injuries and fatalities are preventable.

The Ministry of Forests and Range is taking action to improve safety in B.C. forest industry by:

• Reviewing regulations and policy from a safety perspective
• Establishing best practices
• Ensuring business objectives go through a safety lens
• Ensuring compliance and enforcement of legislation and licences
• Raising the profile of forest safety internally and externally

Significantly improving safety in the forest industry is possible only through collaboration with all stakeholders to create a culture of forest safety. The ministry is working closely with the BC Forest Safety Council, WorkSafe BC and industry to achieve this goal. The BC Forest Safety Council was established to provide leadership in addressing the safety issues facing the forest industry. Representatives from BC Timber Sales and the Ministry of Forests and Range are active members of the Safety Council.

Government efforts to improve forest safety include hiring a dedicated safety officer for the Ministry of Forests and Range, a senior manager for safety in BC Timber Sales, and a coroner dedicated to forest safety.

This site provides access to important information about forest safety and links to other organizations also committed to improving the safety record of the sector.

Reports, Documents, and Communiqués

• Quarterly Stumpage Adjustment and Log Hauling Accidents – March 31, 2006
• Forest Officials Deliver Safety Message at Spot-Checks – April 5, 2006
• Forest Safety Coroner Hired – January 18, 2006
• Health and Safety Accord of the BC Forest Industry
• Forestry TruckSafe Action Plan – December 2005
• Top 10 Rules of the Road
• Western Fallers Association Report – August 2005
• Doug Konkin letter to Chair, Board of Directors, WorkSafe BC – December 6, 2005
• WorkSafe BC Letter to Presidents of BC Forestry Companies – December 1, 2005
• Forest Safety Task Force Report – January 19, 2004

Safety Related Links

• BC Forest Safety Council
• WorkSafe BC – Forest Industry
• Forest Safety Task Force
• BC Faller Certification
• BC Timber Sales Safety Initiatives