This is the fourth annual report of the BC Forest Safety Ombudsman.

The report highlights our activities over the past year and also provides some observations on the “Path Forward” for the BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC).

As the forest industry continues to emerge from the economic downturn of 2008/2009, it has had to adapt to significant changes in its operating environment. Those changes include: an emerging and expanding wood bioenergy sector, new skills and training requirements, WorkSafeBC regulatory changes, impacts of international industry certification, market demands, new technologies, an aging workforce and health issues that affect older workers. All of these changes will shape how the forest sector will look over the next 10 years.

While the forest industry has come a long way in improving the safety outcomes for workers and their families; the industry still has some of the highest accidents rates of any industrial sector. In order to continue improving safety outcomes, the agencies charged with leadership, such as the BCFSC, need to adapt to changes in the industry operating landscape. The Council and industry leaders need to drive a cultural shift that ensures safety becomes part of the way companies and operators do business. It will be important to establish policies, regulations, and practices to improve the safety record of the industry.

 Click here to read the entire report (approx .6 Meg)