WORKPLACE SAFETY NORTH
Central Canada SFI Implementation Committee Partners with Workplace Safety North to Develop Trucking Safety Program
Safe Driving on Forest Roads
Why this project matters
This program, led by Workplace Safety North (WSN), will help the forest products sector enhance the safety of Canada’s trucking industry. Trucking is one of the few industries that shares its workplace with the public so its operations must meet and continually work to improve safety standards. This program will design a set of best practices for driving as a framework for teaching in classrooms and online learning environments.
Safe operation of a motor vehicle on forest access roads is achieved through adhering to best practices which will comprise the core of the Safe Driving on Forest Roads program. The program will review the hazards of driving company, personal or recreational vehicles on logging roads. It covers the unique physical nature of these roads, how to travel safely on them, and how to prepare a vehicle and driver for traveling on them. The course material describes defensive driving techniques for driving on logging roads in all seasons as well as general safety principles on these roads.
Why is SFI involved?
The SFI Community Engagement Grant Program is supporting this project. Skills and safety training are a key focus of SFI. These best practices for safe driving will promoted through the training and will help forest operations provide important education on the risks of operating vehicles on forest roads and provided strategies to mitigate the risks. The main objectives of the training program are to reduce the risk of injury or death resulting from the operation of motor vehicles on forest roads, as well as to prevent damage to the environment and to reduce the likelihood of spills of hazardous materials from vehicle roll overs, or vehicles entering waterways.
Since 1995, SFI Program Participants have contributed $72 million to support local programs through SFI Implementation Committees. This includes logger and forester training to reach the thousands of independent contractors that are the key to the quality of forest harvesting operations. By the end of 2017, more than 192,000 loggers and foresters had completed SFI‑approved training programs.
How the project builds SFI community engagement
WSN enlisted the support of a group of Industry and Community partners to develop the safe driving program. A communication strategy will maximize the reach and the impact of the project. There will be a number of targeted communications as part of this strategy using various forms of media as well as promotion at public events. WSN will promote the program at its an annual conference in Sudbury April, with over 300 delegates, along with a September Conference in Timmins with over 200 delegates. In addition, WSN hosts a lunch and learn style workshop titled Feed Your Brain. These events run on a regular basis throughout the year at various locations across Ontario.
Partners
This partnership includes safety experts and SFI Program Participants.
- Project lead: Workplace Safety North
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative
- Central Canada SFI Implementation Committee
- Resolute Forest Products (SFI Program Participant)
- Northern Ontario Log Trucking Association
- KBM Resource Group
Related information
About Workplace Safety North
An independent not-for-profit, Workplace Safety North provides province-wide government-approved workplace health and safety training and services for the mining and forest products industries, as well as for businesses across northern Ontario. With health and safety specialists located across the province, WSN and its legacy organizations have been helping make Ontario workplaces safer for more than 100 years. A leading provider of health and safety training and consulting, businesses call on WSN for expert advice and information.
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COPY LINK: https://forests.org/grant-wsn/