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One of the primary causes of falling fatalities and accidents is the lack of a standardized comprehensive training program for fallers. As a result, the BC Faller Training Standard was developed to ensure that all fallers, regardless of where they work, receive the same high-quality training.
The BC Faller Training Standard is a training and certification program for fallers, developed by the forest industry, the IWA, and WorkSafeBC (WCB) to meet the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 26.21 and 26.22.
The goal of the BC Faller Training Standard is to ensure that anyone working as a faller has the knowledge, skills, abilities, work practices and attitude necessary to work safely and productively.
The program emphasizes three key aspects of a professional faller:
- Recognizing hazards and completing a risk assessment of each situation — prior to making any cuts — so that the faller is able to formulate a safe and effective falling or bucking plan
- Continuously improving workmanship; and
- Seeking *qualified assistance when the faller is unsure of his abilities or requires help.
*qualified assistance means another faller within 10 minutes, trained and able to respond to an emergency
Faller Certification Process
The BC Faller Training Standard is the foundation for the faller certification process, which is intended to train and certify hand-fallers as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. The Training Standard recognizes two categories of fallers: new fallers and experienced fallers.
New Fallers
To achieve certification, a new faller will be required to complete a New Faller Training Program which consists of 5 days in-class training, 25 days of closely supervised field training and then up to 180 days of worksite experience under close supervision before taking the Faller Certification Exam and Field Evaluation.
The faller certification process consists of a written or oral examination on safe falling practices and an evaluation in the field accompanied by a Qualified Supervisor/Trainer (QST). A minimum passing grade of 75 percent is required in each of the written/oral examination and the field evaluation.
Fallers who pass the written/oral examination and field evaluation will immediately receive a faller’s logbook, which will be used to document the faller’s work experience and competencies. The Qualified Supervisor/Trainer (QST) will provide the exam results to the BC Faller Training Standard & Certification Program who will recognize the accomplishment by sending a Certified Faller’s Wallet Card and framed wall certificate to the faller. For more information on New Faller Training, please visit the link on this page.
Experienced Fallers
As of June 2006, approximately 3,000 experienced fallers have successfully achieved faller certification. July 31st 2005 was the last day that experienced fallers could use the “grandfather” registration process.
As an experienced faller who has missed the grandfathering deadline, you can still register for Certification. However, you will now be required to take a mandatory skills evaluation at a current cost of $900. This skills assessment is intended for experienced fallers and it will confirm that you have the knowledge and experience needed for Certification. If you successfully complete the skills assessment you can proceed to the written test and the Certification evaluation on that same day.
PLEASE NOTE: Failure to successfully complete the skills assessment means the applicant would then be required to complete new faller training
Why is certification mandatory?
The BC Faller Training Standard was developed to meet the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation 26.22.
To be successful the program must cover all fallers without exception. Experienced fallers will have little difficulty with the certification process. New fallers will conform to a standard that may already be well understood by those with more experience. By setting a standard that is consistent throughout the profession everyone will enjoy a safer, more responsible work environment. An inexperienced faller is not only a safety liability to himself but also to those who work with him. It is in everyone’s interest to set and conform to these standards.
Who must be certified?
Anyone working in British Columbia who falls trees larger than 6 inches in diameter must be certified. It isn’t just production hand fallers who require this certification. Anyone engaged in a forestry operation must be certified. A forestry operation is generally viewed as any business where money is earned for tree removal and/or harvest by falling and bucking.
New fallers must successfully complete the WorkSafeBC-approved BC Faller Training Standard program. Experienced fallers with at least 2 years experience may challenge the BC Faller Training Standard directly, by paying $900 and applying for a skills assessment.
Fallers are required to renew their certification annually. To ensure the standard is being maintained at work, a faller must pass a follow-up field evaluation within 36 months of their initial certification.
Origins
The BC Forest Safety Council is a direct result of the Forest Safety Task Force which produced a report on the industry in February 2004. The task force, made up of senior representatives from large forestry employers, contractors, fallers, United Steelworkers-Canada and WorkSafeBC, found that BC’s forest sector requires many changes to reduce high rates of serious injury and death. Along with ensuring that the recommendations of the Forest Safety Task Force are fully implemented, the BC Forest Safety Council is also responsible for developing and coordinating safety strategies and programs across the industry. It represents all the forest industry organizations and the Steelworkers (IWA). To read the Task Force report and recommendations, click here.
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