SKIDDER SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY:
An In-Woods Training for Loggers
Fisher, *K.J. 1; Adler, J. 2; Phaup J. 3; Wagner, B. 4; Goerlich, D.L. 5; Downing, A.K. 6; Parsons, B. 7
1Extension Agent/ANR, Forestry and Natural Resources, Central District; 2Professional Training Instructor, Northeast Woodland, Inc; 3 Industry
Forester, Greif Riverville, LLC; 4 Logging Instructor, Forestry Mutual Insurance Company; 5 District Program Leader, Central District; 6 Extension
Agent/ANR Forestry and Natural Resources, Northern District; 7 Water Quality Specialist, Virginia Department of Forestry
ABSTRACT
Loggers participating in past trainings offered by Virginia Cooperative Extension and the Sustainable Timber Harvesting and Resource Professional (SHARP) Logger program have repeatedly expressed a need for
in-woods skidder safety training. Logging generally is physically demanding, with most work time spent outdoors in poor weather and often in isolated locations. Long considered one of the nation’s most
dangerous occupations, Skidder operators account for four out of every ten logging related injuries. Through funding provided by the Forest Resource Association Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety
Committee, a Virginia Cooperative Extension Program Excellence Grant, and other sources, skidder operators and their immediate supervisors participated in full day training sessions led by John Adler, Senior
Instructor, Northeast Woodland Training, Inc. and Bryan Wagner, (title), Forestry Mutual Insurance Company, Inc. In addition, a training supplement and DVD were produced. This DVD will be used by logging
crews in Virginia, and throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern states. As a result of this project, loggers will improve their implementation of appropriate safety routines, maintenance measures and
overall efficiency.
THE NEED: THE RESPONSE: IMPACTS:
• Past surveys from logger training • A regional training team assembled to offer an in-woods • 20 skidder operators and their immediate supervisors
workshops have repeatedly noted an safety training with grant support. representing 17 logging firms and three individuals from
interest in skidder safety training. 21 counties participated in full day training sessions on
• A Skidder Safety and Efficiency video would be produced October 24-25, 2007 in Natural Bridge, Virginia.
• Every 4 of 10 injuries occur with to reach additional loggers unable to attend the training.
equipment operators, many of which are • A Skidder Safety and Efficiency video has been
skidder operators. Equipment Used produced and professionally edited into a 15-20 minute
video for use by logging crews within Virginia and
• One-half of the accidents occur to 20 throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.
operators while mounting and 15
dismounting equipment. 10
% of Injuries
5
0
Other…
Feller…
Metal
Skidder
Truck
Log/stump
Loader
Falling tree
Chainsaw
A past study by Milburn, 1998
revealed statistics similar to
today’s findings.
LOGGING CREW PARTICIPANT STATS: Average crew size five (5)
Average loads per day seven (7).
TOP CONCERNS OF OPERATORS: The biggest concern with skidders was (1) risk of rollover,
(2) getting on/off the machine.
KNOWLEDGE GAINED: Key items were for pre-planning and cost awareness (6)
Items to act on in the next six (6) months: -Planning ahead of time (8)
-Detailed cost control (4)
-Stream crossings and lock out tag out (2)