The SAFE Companies initiative has been drawn up as a response to unacceptably high accident levels in the industry, which recorded a record 43 forest worker deaths in 2005.
SAFE Companies requires participating firms to be certified as exceeding all current safety requirements, as well as making safety a priority.
The British Columbia Forest Safety Council, which developed the scheme with industry and WorkSafeBC, will start registration and certification this autumn. It expects all 4,000 forest companies in the province to be part of the programme by the end of 2007.
Steve Mueller, director of SAFE Companies, said the programme would benefit companies through rebates to their Workers’ Compensation assessments and from reduced injuries and lost time. “It will save lives and make our industry more competitive,” he said.
The Council has also released a report, “The Cost of Unsafe”, which identifies the impact of the forest sector’s safety performance. It says injuries, fatalities and related injury expenses cost the industry C$432m between 2003-2005.
Some 265 forest workers died between 1993-2003. Seven forest workers have died so far in 2006.
