Issue:
The 2004 final report by the British Columbia Forest Safety Task Force identified culture in the forest industry as an important factor in accidents. In particular, they identified ‘risk taking’ and ‘a belief that accidents are a normal part of working’ as aspects of the culture. Culture change programs however, risk undermining positive cultural features while causing confusion about what people are supposed to be doing. This project aims provide a greater understanding of the logging industry culture and where it comes from, which is a crucial step in finding ways to make positive long term changes. At the same it will make efforts to not compromise positive cultural features or cause confusion that could put workers in danger.
Objectives:
The objective of this project is to positively influence general attitudes to workplace safety and change in high risk behaviours. The logging industry has a very high serious accident rate, despite ongoing logger training and certification programs. The project will provide information that can be used to tailor faller training and faller supervisor training programs and information efforts.
Anticipated Results:
It is anticipated that in the shorter-term, the results will provide positive insights to worker safety. It the longer-term, it is anticipated that the results will help inform education and training for fallers and other logging industry workers and managers.
Investigators:
Melanie Rock (University Calgary)
