The Project:
In the summers of 2004 and 2005, pilot research was conducted on the west coast of Newfoundland regarding issues pertaining to forestry occupational health and safety (OHS). This research included phone interviews and questionnaires to gain opinions and perceptions about OHS from those employed in the forestry/logging sector. A summary report is available for your review. Based upon these findings, researchers from SafetyNet, a Community Research Alliance on Health & Safety in Marine and Coastal Work (www.safetynet.mun.ca), have decided to extend upon this research. Funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and the Atlantic Network for Prevention Research has been secured to support these initiatives. However, it is important to involve a variety of stakeholders in this process in order to better understand the issues and how training and education programs can be developed to improve upon safety and productivity.
Research Questions:
- What are the limitations of existing OHS regulations and safe work practices?
- Can OHS programs and practices be developed to improve upon safety and reduce the risk of accident and injury?
- Will OHS programs and practices reduce the risk and occurrence of injuries at the workplace?
- Will OHS programs and practices improve productivity and profitability of participating companies?
Research Plan:
In progress:
- Create a directory for interested stakeholders in the Atlantic Provinces.
- Circulate a summary document of recent research findings (available now).
- Circulate a statistical report on forestry-related WHSCC claims (available now).
- Perform a comparison of OHS and workers’ compensation regulations across Atlantic Canada.
- Conduct focus groups in other Atlantic provincs to assist with an OHS needs assessment for Newfoundland.
Future research:
- Conduct a review of the academic, trade and professional literature to identify existing OHS tools or programs currently employed in the forestry sector in and outside of Atlantic Canada.
- Conduct an OHS needs assessment for Atlantic Canada.
- Introduce OHS tools into a workplace and evaluate its success.
- Share the successful tool or program with other workplaces.
Taking part in this study:
You are encouraged to participate in these initiatives. As a start, you can provide us with your contact details. This will ensure you are included on an information distribution list and are provided with the opportunity to participate in interviews, questionnaires or focus groups related to forestry health and safety. As we collect and analyze data, results will be passed along in a timely fashion.
External Links and Documents:
The Forest Professional - guidelines for the Stewards of tomorrow's forests, 4th edition (pdf)
Forestry Safety Society of Nova Scotia
Atlantic Master Logger Certification Program
Forestry History Rates in Nova Scotia (pdf)
Certified Forestry Workers Presentation (pdf)
For More Information:
Julie Matthews
Inco Innovation Centre, Room-3057A
P.O.Box 4200, MUN
St. John's, NL
A1C 5S7
Canada
Telephone: 709-737-7258
Fax: 709-737-7257
Email: julie.matthews@med.mun.ca
