VANCOUVER — Forestry related deaths in B.C.’s northern interior fell dramatically in 2006 from the year before — but trucking injuries and fatalities are still notably high.

Widely considered one of the most dangerous industries in Canada, the forestry sector in B.C. experienced 12 total workplace deaths, down from 43 the year before, and the lowest number of fatalities on record, according to the B.C. Forest Safety Council.

Serious injuries were also down to 32 from 43.

2005, on the other hand, was the highest number of forestry deaths in 20 years.

While forestry accident and deaths fell, the
danger for log truckers remains high

The council, reports Canadian Press, said the most dramatic improvement was in the manual tree-felling and mechanical harvesting sector, where only two fatalities were recorded, compared with 19 last year.

But while log hauling also saw a decline in fatalities, down to five from eight, serious injuries rose to 20 from five a year earlier.

Serious injuries and fatalities in other trucking and equipment servicing were still notably high, said the council.

In an attempt to reduce the high number of trucking-related injuries and fatalities among log haulers in the region, WorkSafe B.C. proposed a series of changes late last year to provincial safety regulations.

WorkSafe B.C., formerly the Workers’ Compensation Board, is conducting stakeholder meetings until Jan. 31 on proposed amendments, which include clarifying the lines of responsibility on at work sites, and improving rules for mechanized logging and log trucking.

In particular, a new proposal states every forestry road must be designed by an appropriately qualified professional engineer or professional forester to meet a standard of safe transportation.

— with files from Canadian Press