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WorkSafeBC reminds fallers they must apply for certification by July 31
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Richmond B.C. , July 25, 2005 — In order to comply with WorkSafeBC (Workers' Compensation Board of B.C.) health and safety regulations, all forest industry experienced fallers must have either challenged and passed the faller certification exam or be registered to do so by July 31, 2005. Failure to do so could be costly to fallers and/or their employers.
Two of the recommendations of the Forest Safety Task Force, released in February 2004, were that a uniform training and certification standard for fallers be developed, and that the BC Forest Safety Council be created to be responsible for developing a sector-wide permanent safety infrastructure. The BC Forest Safety Council is responsible for testing and evaluating fallers and for maintaining the data base of certified fallers.
The BC Faller Training Standard, developed by WorkSafeBC, and administered by the BC Forest Safety Council, ensures fallers will have the knowledge, skills, work practices and attitudes that will enable them to function as safe and productive fallers.
In the past 18 months, more than 3,500 experienced fallers in B.C. have passed the evaluation or have become registered to do so. Fewer than 50 applicants have been unsuccessful. An experienced faller is one who has fallen trees in B.C. for a minimum of 120 days.
For an experienced faller to be considered for evaluation, they must register with the BC Forest Safety Council by July 31, 2005 (go to http://www.bcforestsafe.org/ for more information).
Failure of an experienced faller to register for evaluation could result in their being required to take the complete new faller program
Serving nearly two million workers and about 179,000 employers, WorkSafeBC (the Workers' Compensation Board) is a provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors and funded by employers. WorkSafeBC was born out of a compromise between B.C.'s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers or fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. WorkSafeBC is committed to a safe and healthy workplace and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits to workers injured as a result of their employment.
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For more information please contact: |
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| Gladys Johnsen Prevention Public Affairs Manager WorkSafeBC 604 214-5441 or toll-free in B.C. at 1 888 621-7233, local 5441 Or cell 604 908-0876 |
Tanner Elton, CEO BC Forest Safety Council 604 891-1214 |