WSCA Conference 2017 - Agenda & Feedback

[Scooter]

Here's a link on the WSCA website: http://wsca.ca/wsca-annual-conference-tradeshow/

I've attached a PDF to the bottom of this post. It was sent out earlier today, and lists the most recent version of the conference schedule.

I've posted inside this particular forum since a lot of the conference deals with health, safety, and training.

[Scooter]

Here are some notes from the recent Rumour Mill Roundup newsletter, re. last week's conference:

Forest Safety Ombudsman Calls for Emergency Response Time Guarantees and Provincial Review

Roger Harris released the results of his two-year long investigation into the challenges of getting seriously injured workers from remote sites to emergency care. Speaking to conference delegates he outlined his reasons for recommending government mandate guaranteed timelines for access to appropriate trauma care for all British Columbians; and that there be a review of the current legislation as it pertains to BC ambulance services. The report was welcomed by delegates as important and relevant to improving safety in our sector. To read the full report click here.


Looking Back on Silviculture Safety: Many Gains Since 2000, But Challenges Remain

Overall tree planting claims are down, but injury rates have flattened.

Silviculture sector safety auditor and researcher Jordan Tesluk reminded delegates of the progress we have made as a sector in improving the health and safety of workers. But we expect a lot from them, many of whom are young and evidently feeling the pressure for production. That may be reflected in the recent leveling of safety statistics in tree planting. It may even be the case that the competitive pressure on piecework rates is eating gains made in safety. At the same time we have been spared any fatalities for over eight years in the sector. But Tesluk has observed many conditions still persist that make us vulnerable to calamity.


TSB on Marine Safety and Silviculture Crew

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada doesn’t usually work with a sector until after a disaster or incident. So it is a unique and a good thing when they work with industry proactively to prevent disasters. The Marine Safety Advisory Group was formed under the aegis of the BC Forest Safety Council in part due to marine tragedies and close calls involving silviculture crews. As TSB investigator Glenn Budden told conference delegates one of the outcomes of that group’s work will be to produce guidelines for contractors on how to hire competent masters and fit vessels for transporting crews.


Workplace Harassment Panel Proves Revealing

Sexism and workplace harassment is likely more prevalent in the silviculture sector than we might want to admit. That was certainly the drift and gist of the narratives shared by both women and men at the conference panel aimed at defining what a respectful silviculture workplace should look like. Among the disturbing stories, there was evidence of employers, supervisors and workers who are getting it right. It’s with these good examples that the industry needs to work to make sure zero tolerance is actually practiced, offering protection to workers in our sector.


Forestry Promises Look Good: But Where’s (most of) The Money?

Work is proceeding on our government’s significant and encouraging suite of forestry commitments made last year as the conference forestry policy panel outlined. Forests For Tomorrow and the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C. both have funding and plans in place to execute their mandates—to the benefit of forests, we would hope, and the forestry contracting sector. Less clear is where and how the substantial commitments contained in the Forest Climate Action Leadership plan will shape up. Chief Forester Diane Nicholls made it clear that the substance of those promises was still at the political level. For the WFCA it means watching this year’s budget and working with our government to achieve its goals as promised.


Forest Practices Board: Unique and Important to the Forest Sector

Forest Practices Board Chair Tim Ryan reminded delegates that its been 20 years since the Board’s inception and we may need to remind ourselves about the unique and important part it has played, and continues to play, in shaping forestry practices as the province’s forestry watchdog. He outlined some of the work it sees going forward, recognizing that some of it was in response to matters raised by the WSCA. Although Ryan wasn’t advocating it, it was apparent to many delegates during questions that British Columbians might benefit from the Forest Practices Board having an expanded mandate to cover more resource activities than just forestry.


Bio Char: Carbonized Snake Oil? Or The Real Thing?

Delegates heard from more than one presenter during the forest policy panel that we cannot continue the profligacy of burning so-called waste wood after harvesting. So it was significant to hear researchers describe the properties of pyrolysis-derived bio-char. It can filter water, rebuild soil, boost plant production, sequester carbon, host healthy microbes and create possible value out of low value wood fibre. One of the problems researcher John Miedema admitted to was that when they describe all its benefits people don’t believe one simple substance can actually have all those beneficial properties.


Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson: Don’t Give Up On Politics

We may have good reason to be skeptical of politicians said politician Bob Simpson in his keynote address to conference delegates. Politicians spend too much energy trying to remain in power rather than practicing good government and solving problems said Simpson. At the same time the public should not accept these antics and raise, rather than lower, their expectations of elected officials. It is only through people increasing their commitment to good government that we will be able to solve the complex problems of forestry and society as a whole he said.


The Leader of the Loyal Opposition Anticipates Tough Campaign This Spring

John Horgan told delegates he expects to be buried in negative criticism by the BC Liberals as part of their campaign to discredit the NDP as incompetent to form the next government. But he promised to answer back aggressively pointing out the deficiencies, as he sees them, in Christie Clark’s government. He promised the NDP would announce its forestry platform closer to the election stating that if he was elected the current government commitments would continue and be expanded upon.

[jdtesluk]

To be clear, we have avoided any transportation deaths in the last 8 years. This last year, a gentleman passed away due to apparent heart failure, but it is not recognized as work-related (at this time). Prior to that, the last death was 2011, which was actually a slasher/brusher. However, WSBC affiliated that person's work with the tree planting sector due to business classifications. The last person actually killed in a tree planting operation was Christine Benoit-Beslisle in 2008 in a motor vehicle incident near Vanderhoof.

The conference was very good this year and had some excellent discussions.

>Harris's recommendation is unlikely to materialize any time soon. That is an election issue. Ombudsman recommendations almost always are followed, but this is a big one that reaches far far beyond forestry. He remains a strong advocate for both forestry workers and rural BC. I think Roger is a good egg.

>The harassment discussion was engaging. This year it was led by representatives from within industry, rather than an outside presenter. Credit John Betts and Chris Akehurst for being the individuals with integrity that want to be progressive forces in bettering our industry, rather than waiting for an unsavory headline.

>Bob Simpson- the Pat Verbeek of provincial politics. This guy can speak. Really compelling.

>John Horgan presented well. Maybe better than any of the last 3 or 4 NDP leaders. He laid out a pretty clear campaign strategy. His vision on taxes is quite honest and realistic. Question is if people prefer realistic or campaign promises.

Really it's a great conference, and a lot of companies miss out tremendously by skipping this.