Michele Fry
Wood fibre manufacturing dedicated to biomass fuel production uses industrial waste products such as hog fuel or wood chips. …Traditionally, these waste products are stored in large fibre piles at manufacturing work sites. If not managed correctly, the accumulation of wood fibre in piles can pose a significant fire risk. …The range of moisture content combined with various particle sizes and densities within the material leads to microbial growth and biological activity. The combination of these factors can cause the fibre piles to self-heat over time due to the microbial decay of the wood fibre, triggering combustion within the pile(s). …The hazardous result of this biological, physical and chemical reaction generates smouldering pockets that can endure continuously for months, creating gaps and fire pockets that can collapse under any weight. …The risk of spontaneous ignition increases if the raw material or solid biofuel is initially moist, the stored volume is large and the ambient temperature is high.
Richmond, B.C. – With extreme temperatures in many parts of British Columbia, WorkSafeBC is advising employers to consider closing down their workplaces if workers cannot be protected from the risk of heat stress. “All workers are potentially at risk,” said Al Johnson, Head of Prevention Services at WorkSafeBC. “With the heat wave across B.C., we are warning employers and workers about the risk of developing heat stress. If not recognized and treated early, heat stress can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.” …“If an employer cannot be assured that workers will be protected against heat stress, they should seriously consider shutting down their workplace during this extreme heat,” said Johnson. In the last three years, there have been almost 100 accepted claims for work-related injuries caused by heat stress and these are preventable injuries.
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy in collaboration with Northern Health has issued an Air Quality Advisory for Prince George due to high concentrations of fine particulate matter that are expected to persist until weather conditions change. …During air quality advisories, the city’s Clean Air Bylaw prohibits recreational fires, use of wood-burning appliances and street sweeping activities. Industry is also required to follow permit requirements that are triggered during air quality advisories and are asked to reduce emissions wherever possible. Environment Canada says exposure is particularly a concern for individuals with chronic conditions such as asthma, COPD, heart disease, and diabetes; respiratory infections such as COVID-19, pregnant women, infants, and older adults.
Threat: Daytime highs ranging from 29 to 38 degrees celsius combined with overnight lows of 18 to 21 degrees celsius. Humidex values during this period will reach the high 30’s to possibly the low 40’s.
Dusty Resource Road Conceals Hazard Resulting in Collision Between Pickup Trucks: Two pickup trucks loaded with All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) were travelling down a mainline logging road at the end of day. The first truck came over the crest of a hill and encountered a large depression in the road. The driver slammed on the brakes but still hit the depression hard. Following the impact, the driver slowed down to assess if the straps had loosened on the ATV from impact, but there was no safe place to pull over. 
One of B.C.’s biggest forestry companies will be donating funds to charity for each employee vaccinated against COVID-19. To continue to promote the safest possible workplace and support the health and well-being of their communities, Canfor is encouraging all of its employees across North America to get vaccinated, said senior director of communications and government relations Michelle Ward. “As a show of appreciation, once employees are fully vaccinated, they are eligible for a gift or donation in their honour to a named charity,” Ward said. Canfor is also donating $25 to Habitat for Humanity for every employee vaccinated, she added. The company has a number of operations across northern B.C., including Vanderhoof, Chetwynd, Prince George, Fort St. John, Houston, Mackenzie and Taylor. It estimates approximately 3,500 employees in the province will be eligible for the program.
After Northern Health declared a COVID-19 outbreak last week on a Quesnel tree planting crew WorkSafeBC is now auditing COVID-19 practices and compliances on the companies involved. One of the nine workers infected has died. Previous Workplace Closure Orders issued May 10th to MikeGroSite Consulting Ltd. and Dewan Enterprise Ltd. remain in place. The companies were planting for BC Timber Sales. The WFCA has cooperated with the agencies involved since it first heard reports early this month of sick workers on a crew working from Quesnel. According to allegations received from two employees who got sick, there were no COVID-19 protocols in place at work, or in accommodations, and little or no support from their employers once they had symptoms. In announcing the outbreak Northern Health stated it had “determined that that infection control measures were not sufficient to prevent further transmission of COVID-19 in employer-sourced staff lodging, transportation, and field-work settings.”
A veteran tree planter has died after he was exposed to COVID-19 while travelling to a reforestation operation in Quesnel. The 80-year-old man worked for Dewan Enterprises as a reforestation sub-contractor. Health officials in northern B.C. declared the outbreak at the reforestation operation in Quesnel on May 21, three days after he died. A total of nine people have tested positive in the outbreak. The outbreak involved Dewan Enterprises and MikeGroSite Consulting. Both businesses were ordered to close on May 10 after public health investigations found employers failed to ensure safety protocols were in place and being followed, including wearing masks. …Dr. Trevor Corneil, an acting medical health officer with the Northern Health Authority says the man… was working within the city when he was exposed to the virus. Jordan Tesluk, B.C.’s forestry safety advocate, says the entire tree-planting community is grieving the loss of a beloved veteran member. 
Heavy rainfall and frost-related damage has forced closure of forest service roads in the Omineca Region to heavy industrial traffic while two roads have been closed completely, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development said Tuesday. Heavy rainfall and frost-related damage has forced closure of forest service roads in the Omineca Region to heavy industrial traffic while two roads have been closed completely, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development said Tuesday. …Exceptions remain in place for vehicles related to road maintenance, tree planting, grocery, fuel and other essential deliveries to communities and fighting wildfires. Recreational vehicles are also allowed but not recommended due to the poor road conditions.
B.C.’s vast network of wilderness resource roads has been used for recreation for decades, but the traffic to remote areas is set to jump as summer arrives and COVID-19 travel restrictions ease. The provincial government has always had difficulty maintaining the 58,000 km of forest service roads that serve industry and are increasingly being kept open for residential, industrial and recreational access. B.C. Auditor General Michael Pickup reported in January that the B.C.’s resource road districts are only receiving about one quarter of the money they request for maintenance… The B.C. Forest Safety Council says in the past 10 years, one out of four resource road accidents has resulted in the death of a light pickup driver. Proper use of two-way radios and safety procedures on active logging roads is the subject of a new instructional video…
Wood products company EACOM Timber Corp. is paying employees and contractors at sites across Quebec and Ontario to get 
Europe’s effort to make energy from American wood pellets is drawing complaints from Black community leaders in South Carolina, where manufacturers are expanding to produce more of the tiny wood chips. …The Rev. Leo Woodberry [and others] say Europe’s desire for wood pellets is coming at the expense of South Carolina’s natural resources and disadvantaged communities. [Pellet plants are often located] near African American communities that are particularly vulnerable to contaminants from the plants… African Americans suffer more respiratory problems than others, making the rise of pellet plants an issue that should not be ignored, said Florence Anoruo, at S.C. State University. …Of 32 Southeastern pellet production facilities, 18 were located in environmental justice communities., generally described as areas with high poverty and high non-white populations, a 2018 study concluded.