Top Recommendations from BC Forest Safety Council Safety Advisors

By David Adshead, BCFSC Falling Safety Advisor
BC Forest Safety Council
May 26, 2025
Category: Special Feature
Region: Canada West

BC Forest Safety Council Safety Advisors help forestry employers and employees achieve their safety goals. By visiting worksites, they provide invaluable insights and practical guidance for implementing effective safety procedures and maintaining safe work practices to ensure workplaces meeting SAFE Certification audit requirements but also fostering a culture of safety by minimizing risks and enhancing the well-being of everyone on site.

Here are some of the top recommendations from recent site visits to help keep your workplace safe and efficient.

  • Complete Your Emergency Response Drill: Ensure you are performing regular Emergency Response Drills. As of November 1, 2024, a First Aid Drill is mandatory. • Conduct Proper Incident Investigations: Always end investigations with Fundamental Recommendations to prevent future occurrences. These should include procedural changes. If procedures aren’t altered, the results won’t change.
  • Check Your Emergency Escape Hatches: In an emergency, if the door is blocked, you don’t want to find that an escape hatch is rusted shut. Regularly inspect these hatches.
  • Document First Aid Assessments Correctly: Every worksite must have a documented First Aid Assessment. This requirement changes on November 1, 2024, so ensure you have the latest form and instructions.
  • Regular Worker Assessments: Assess all workers and supervisors for competency regularly, based on risk. These assessments should be performed by someone competent in this task.
  • Conduct Site Inspections: Complete inspections for any site you work at for 30 days or more, including shops and offices. If there are significant changes, redo the inspection.
  • Include Lockout in Safe Work Procedures: Lockout procedures must be included in equipment or truck Safe Work Procedures. Gravity should always be considered as a factor.

BC Forest Safety advisors are available to come to your SAFE Certified worksite and assist you in your safe work procedures. Give them a call at 1.877.741.1060 or reach out by email safeco@bcforestsafe.org to arrange your site visit today.

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