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Technical Release
WEST VIRGINIA'S LOGGING SAFETY INITIATIVE Safety: logging |
Feb. 2003 |
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INTRODUCTION: The fatality and injury rate associated with logging in West Virginia has historically been among the highest in the nation. In 1999, over 75 percent of registered logging businesses in the state had experience modification factors of one or higher and the "mod one" rate for Workers' Compensation insurance reached $47.90 per $100 payroll. This situation led to the announcement by OSHA that intensive audits of logging operations would begin in January 2000. Despite these facts, there had never been an formal logging safety program in West Virginia . . . until now.
OPERATION: In May 2000, the West Virginia Forestry Association (WVFA) received $20,000 from the National Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety Foundation to support the performance monitoring portion of the Loggers Safety Initiative Program. A central web-based database system is housed at the West Virginia University Division of Forestry. LSI program data are inputted by West Virginia Forestry Association (WVFA) staff as training is completed and employee records are updated. Reports can be retrieved to determine employee training compliance, assist WVFA in scheduling training sessions, and measuring accident claims and costs. The database is instrumental in ensuring the integrity of the data. In 2001, the LSI Committee entered into an agreement with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to perform an intense analysis of the program data. As the graph illustrates, injury rates declined significantly during the first 12 quarters of the LSI program. RESULTS: On June 30, 2002, the LSI Program completed FY2002, its third year of operation. During FY2002, a total of 348 individuals attended the five LSI Workshops (85 owner/operators, 262 skidder, dozer and loader operators and truck drivers). Game of Logging training sessions for chain saw operators were held with the following attendance: Level 1 - 65; Level 2 Ð 56; Level 3 - 38; Level 4 - 30; and 109 at a Refresher course. Currently (FY2003), more than 400 employees from 60 logging companies are officially enrolled in the program. As the fourth year (FY2003) of the LSI Program begins, the LSI Committee is working to prepare a proposal to submit to the Workers' Compensation Administration for continuation of the LSI program. The most recent claims reports from the Workers' Compensation Administration show a continuing decline in the number and cost of claims. Comparing FY2000 and FY2002 data reveals a 26% decline in the number of claims and a 27% ($135,364) decline in the cost associated with those claims, while the number of participating companies has increased by 7%. COMMENTS: The WVFA and the LSI companies are working with the West Virginia Division of Workers' Compensation to develop additional incentives for those logging companies who have a demonstrated commitment to safety. Several ideas on how to reduce the tremendous WorkersÕ Compensation burden on logging employers in the state have been discussed. Some of these include: a separate rate classification for LSI companies; a separate rate classification for mechanized logging operations; and continuation of the existing LSI program with a 15% annual Workers' Compensation reduction for participating companies. The LSI program has truly made a difference in the safety and efficiency of loggers in West Virginia.
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Forest Resources Association Inc. |