Prince George, BC.- The safety factor is improving in the forest industry with B.C. Forest Safety Council CEO Reynold Hert reporting there were six fatalities  in the sector as of the end of October for  2010. While that is down from the previous year’s  fatals ( there had been 10 in 2009), Hert says there are still high injury rates.

 

Hert says they are at a challenging point in continuing to improve the industry and reduce injuries. “In some ways, it feels like we have solved the big problem. The forest industry is no longer in the news for its poor safety track record, and we have some industry-wide systems in place, such as SAFE certification. On the other hand, our lost time and serious injury rates are still twice as high as the rest of the industry sectors in the province.”

 

Hert says when injured, people in forestry are off work much longer than those in other BC industries. As of the end of October almost 750 people lost work time due to injuries.

 

He says the there is a lot at stake when it comes to safety. Not only is the health and well being   of the current employee a great concern, but forests, like all other resource sectors, is losing its workforce due to retirements. Hert says as the industry looks to attract and higher younger people, “Telling them they are going to work in an industry dedicated to getting them back to their family injury-free after work — and proving it with a track record that shows we can do it — is a positive selling point.”