The Louisiana Forest Association and Louisiana Logging Council Partnership Increases Safety and Health Training and Decreases Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
Background:
In May 2000, the Louisiana Forestry Association (LFA) and Louisiana Logging Council (LLC) formed an OSHA Strategic Partnership (OSP) with OSHA's Region VI Baton Rouge Area Office. Prior to the OSP forming, the logging industry had a history of being one of the most dangerous industries in Louisiana. The main purpose of the OSP was to reduce injuries, illnesses, and fatalities in the state, as well as the industry, by increasing safety and health training and education, and identifying hazards by conducting self-inspections. Due to the success over the years, the OSP was renewed on July 18, 2008 for an additional three years.
Success Impact:
Decreased Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities
Through partners' efforts to address causes of the high number of injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, it was discovered that the main cause and type of injury among loggers was a knee sprain/strain incurred while dismounting equipment (and trucks). Since then, the OSP has emphasized proper procedures for dismounting equipment in their safety workshops and training courses. Over the last few years, this type of accident has been nearly eliminated among equipment operators.
Two years after the OSP was implemented, the number of total fatalities in the state decreased significantly. As shown in the below table, the number of fatalities decreased by almost 80 percent between 2000 and 2006. The OSP has contributed to this decrease in logging fatalities by promoting safety and health in this industry through the development of safety and health management systems (SHMS).
|
Number of Logging Fatalities in Louisiana by Year |
|
|---|---|
|
2000 |
8 |
|
2001 |
8 |
|
2002 |
8 |
|
2003 |
8 |
|
2004 |
2 |
|
2005 |
3 |
|
2006 |
1 |
Increased Safety and Health Training Leads to a Safer Culture
Over the duration of the OSP, more than 45 training sessions were offered, with more than 2,000 loggers receiving safety training pertaining to industry hazards. The training sessions were provided by Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs) from Region VI's Baton Rouge Area Office, OSHA Consultation, and C.F. “Neils” de Hoop, an associate professor at Louisiana State University's Louisiana Forest Products Development Center. Additional training courses were also provided by OSHA Consultation at a LLC seminar and the LFA sponsored an OSHA regulations workshop. Technical assistance in the form of interpretation and explanation of standards has been provided by CSHOs and the Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) from the Baton Rouge Area Office and Consultation staff.
Partnership Objectives:
The key objective of the OSP is to improve loggers' safety and health in Louisiana reducing fatalities, injuries, and illnesses and improving safety and health management systems (SHMS). Progress is measured by collecting and analyzing workplace fatalities, injuries, and illnesses, and tracking the number of safety training classes offered and attendees of each session.