Volume 00, Number 1 Spring 2000

Fire prevention in the blowdown

The logging industry has been an important partner in the prevention
and control of wildland fires for many years. In 2000, with almost a
half million acres of drying, blown-down timber in Minnesota, the
logger’s role in fire prevention and control is even more critical. The
windstorms of 1999 took only minutes to do their damage, but the threat
of massive wildfires in these blowdown areas is steadily mounting as
the trees dry out. This threat will be with us for years to come.

Although large prescribed fires may seem like a healthy, natural way to “clean up” blowdown,
fire behavior specialists say the amount of fuel present on these sites could easily make any fire
uncontrollable and allow the fire to spread to healthy standing timber on public and private
lands.

What should loggers be doing for fire prevention when the winter snow retreats? Some of the
following activities are mandated by law or through timber sales regulations, some just need to
become more of a habit and some are just common sense.
Blowdown, cont. on Page 7

New Minnesota Rule may apply

to loggers constructing roads
A leading cause of workplace fatalities in Minnesota is when
employees are either crushed or struck by heavy equipment.
Minnesota Rules 5207.1000, Operation of Mobile Earth-
Moving Equipment, was developed to provide protection to
operators and ground crews working with and around mobile
earth-moving equipment. The rule became effective in
Minnesota on Oct. 4, 1999.
New rule, cont. on Page 2

Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry

443 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, Minnesota 55155

LogSafe Newsletter 1 Spring 2000

The view from here
Notes from Ed LaFavor, LogSafe Coordinator

As I write this, the radio reports the temperature in Embarrass, Minn.

is -38 degrees. However, even though we have had the usual cold this
winter, the weather has been favorable for the logging industry. The temperature has been on a
roller coaster, but we did not have any extended cold snaps, which slow down operations and
add costs.

Winter got off to a slow start this year and many people were concerned the swamps wouldn’t
freeze, before the predicted record-amount of snowfall. But, the cold arrived without the snow
and the wetlands froze down very well, except in some cases where loggers reported that they
had some trouble in the swamps due to lack of moisture. This caused the swamps to not properly
freeze down and support the equipment.

With the lack of snowcover and a drier than normal fall, there is concern about the coming
spring wildland fire season. The forest has an abundance of fuel on the ground, due mostly to
the summer storms from years past. We all need to be extra careful this year to prevent wildland
and equipment fires. This will be one of the spring LogSafe seminar topics.

It has been one year since the last reported fatality in the Minnesota logging industry and I have
heard of few injuries or near misses. I would like to congratulate you on this record. Other
Minnesota industries that fall under 29 CFR 1910.266 (OSHA logging standard), have not been
so fortunate. There were two Minnesota fatalities in 1999, by workers using a chainsaw to cut
down trees. There were also two other incidents where a faller dropped a tree onto other workers.
Both of the injured workers were taken by ambulance to a hospital for treament. These accidents
could have easily doubled the number of fatalities from two to four.

If we keep focused on what we and our other coworkers are doing and work safely, we can
prevent these accidents and keep them in check. This will allow us to attend those hunting and
fishing trips we all look forward to. So remember, “LogSafe.”

New rule, cont. from page 1

ahead of the actually timber harvesting. The
Building logging-roads is construction construction of roads and landings are
The new rule outlines the minimum safety considered preparatory work prior to the
requirements for the safe operation of mobile logging activity. These activities are covered
earth-moving equipment, including training by the applicable construction standards of 29
requirements and frequency, necessity for high- CFR 1926.
visibility garments, equipment requirements
and contractor responsibilities. However, the felling of trees in preparation for
the construction activities, such as the building
What does this new rule have to do with of roads, is considered to be a logging operation,
logging? The answer lies in the job or activity but the building of the road is a construction
that is being performed. Typically, before the activity.
timber harvesting starts, a road and a landing
are constructed, usually many weeks or months The entire rule is printed on the next two pages.
LogSafe Newsletter 2 Spring 2000
Minnesota Rules 5207.1000
Operation of Mobile Earth-Moving Equipment
Subpart 1. Scope
This part identifies minimum safety
requirements for the safe operation of mobile
earth-moving equipment used for earth
moving, building, or road construction or
demolition, including, but not limited to,
bulldozers, motor graders, scrapers, loaders,
skid-steer loaders, compaction equipment,
backhoes, end dumps, side dumps, and dump
trucks. This part pertains to operators of the
equipment and exposed employees,
including, but not limited to, grade checkers,
grade persons, rod persons, stake hops, stake
jumpers, and blue toppers working in the
area.

Subpart 2. Training requirements

A. Mobile earth-moving equipment
operators and all other employees working
on the ground exposed to mobile earth-
moving equipment shall be trained in the safe
work procedures pertaining to mobile earth-moving equipment and in the recognition of unsafe
or hazardous conditions.

B. Training programs shall be developed and instructed by competent individuals who have
knowledge, training, experience, and the demonstrated ability to identify existing and predictable
hazards related to the subject matter.

C. Training programs must include the following elements:

(1) safe work procedures on how to approach mobile earth-moving equipment, whether in use or
idling, including:
(a) visual, voice or signal communication that shall be made with the operator prior to
approaching earth-moving equipment;
(b) maintaining one’s visibility to the operator while approaching the equipment; and
(c) operator responsibilities, such as placing the transmission in neutral, setting the parking
brake, and indicating that it is safe to approach the equipment;

(2) identification of the operator’s blind spots on various earth-moving equipment used;

(3) instruction for mobile earth-moving equipment operators in conducting daily equipment
inspections according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, and checking the area around
the equipment for a clear path prior to beginning operation;
MN Rules 5207.1000, cont. on Page 4
LogSafe Newsletter 3 Spring 2000
MN Rules 5207.1000, cont. from Page 3

Operation of Mobile Earth-Moving Equipment

(4) safe operating procedures of equipment, including traveling, backing, parking, loading for
transport, maintenance, and operation;

(5) safe work procedures when working around or adjacent to overhead or underground utilities,
as described in Code of Federal Regulations, title 29, part 1926.600(a)(6) and 1926.651(b); and

(6) additional hazards that could be created by changing conditions.

Subpart 3. Training frequency

Employees shall be trained initially before beginning work which exposes them to mobile earth-
moving equipment. Employee training records shall be retained by the employer for the duration
of the project.

Subpart 4. High-visibility personal protective equipment

A. Each employee working on the ground who is exposed to mobile earth-moving equipment
shall be provided with and required to wear a high-visibility warning vest or other high-visibility
garments. For work during hours of darkness or low light conditions of less than one foot
candle, this protective equipment must be made of or marked with retro-reflective material.

B. High-visibility apparel, as described in item A, shall comply with the specifications in part
5207.0100.

Subpart 5. Equipment requirements

A. All mobile earth-moving equipment shall comply with Code of Federal Regulations, title
29, part 1926.602(a)(9)(ii) for back-up alarms or signal persons if applicable.

B. When mobile earth-moving equipment is operated during times of darkness or low light
conditions, the equipment, if designed to function equally in both forward and reverse directions,
such as compaction equipment, bulldozers, motor graders, loaders, and skid-steer loaders, shall
be equipped with at least two headlights for forward travel and adequate rear lights for reverse
travel unless other adequate lighting is provided.

Subpart 6. Contractor responsibility

A. If the mobile earth-moving equipment contractor may expose other contractor’s employees
to the hazard of mobile earth-moving equipment, the controlling employer, such as general
contractor or construction manager, for the project shall coordinate a joint contractor-employee
safety awareness meeting between contractors and employees on site. Discussion elements for
employee awareness training can be found in subparts 2, item C; and 4.

B. The employee safety awareness meeting shall be documented, identifying when the meeting
was held and who attended, including a brief summary of what was reviewed. Documentation
shall be retained for the duration of the project.

This rule is also available at the Office of the Revisor of Statutes

Web site at: www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us.
LogSafe Newsletter 4 Spring 2000
 Please affix
sufficient
postage here.

LogSafe
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
PO Box 392
Chisholm, MN 55719-0392

Spring 2000 LogSafe seminars

March 28 Rochester Holiday Inn South
April 4 Two Harbors Superior Shores Convention Center
April 5 and 6 Eveleth Best Inn, Highway 53
April 11 and 12 International Falls Holiday Inn, Highway 71
April 13 Cloquet Cloquet Forestry Center, 175 University Road
April 18 and 19 Grand Rapids Sawmill Inn, 2301 Pokegama
April 20 Cloquet Cloquet Forestry Center, 175 University Road
April 25 Brainerd Holiday Inn, 2115 South Sixth Street
April 26 and 27 Bemidji Northern Inn, Highway 2 West
April 28 Brainerd Holiday Inn, 2115 South Sixth Street
Note: Participants only have to attend one full-day seminar.

LogSafe agenda
There will be three tracks offered at each LogSafe session:
1. CPR and first aid certification and recertification
— All-day class for first-time training or recertification
2. Chainsaw safety
— All-day session about personal protective equipment, safe operating procedures, proper
felling techniques and maintenance
3. Workers’ compensation system overview (half-day session), liquid petroleum gas systems
(2 1/2-hour session) and wildfire prevention (1-hour session)
— All-day session about how the Minnesota workers’ compensation system operates, how
liquid petroleum gas systems work and safe work practices to prevent a wildland fire

Each seminar is 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This free one-day event includes all resource and training materials and lunch.

LogSafe Newsletter 5 Spring 2000

 LogSafe Registration

Seminar date Location

Company __________________________________________
Address __________________________________________
City __________________State ZIP
Phone (______)___________________________________

Name _____________________________________
Address _____________________________________
City, state, ZIP _____________________________________
Phone _(___)________________________________

Name _____________________________________
Address _____________________________________
City, state, ZIP _____________________________________
Phone _(___)________________________________

Name _____________________________________
Address _____________________________________
City, state, ZIP _____________________________________
Phone _(___)________________________________

Name _____________________________________
Address _____________________________________
City, state, ZIP _____________________________________
Phone _(___)________________________________
Photocopy form to register additional employees.
Please return by mail (see reverse side)
or send via fax at: (218) 254-9827.
This information can be made available in alternative formats by calling the Department
of Labor and Industry at 1-800-342-5354 or (651) 297-4198/TTY. If you need an
accommodation to enable you to fully participate in this event, please contact Ed
LaFavor at 1-888-234-1217 or (651) 297-4198/TTY .

LogSafe Newsletter 6 Spring 2000

 Blowdown, cont. from page 1

How to be prepared when working in blowdown areas

• Keep abreast of the current fire weather. Using your own observations may be best, but listen for fire
weather forecasts on the radio or television. Another alternative is the Internet. The Minnesota DNR
has a Web site with current fire danger, burning restrictions and fireweather forecasts. The address is:
http://www.ra.dnr.state.mn.us/fire.
• All employees that require spark arresters should have them and make sure that they are in proper
working order.
• Avoid using any open fires, especially in the blowdown areas. Abide by all burning restrictions that
are likely to be put into place in the spring.
• Have a few basic firefighting tools on hand at all times. A fire extinguisher for equipment fires is a
must. Shovels and water in a backpack firefighting pump are also important and may be required by
time sales contracts.
• Make your equipment available for emergency fire control through equipment contracts with local
forestry offices. Keep your equipment maintained and ready to go at all times.
• Watch out for your own safety and that of your employees by using extra caution when working in
remote, poor-access areas, that may be difficult to evacuate quickly. Let fire control specialists know
where and when you are working in these areas. Determine where your best safety zones are and your
escape routes.
Contributed by Kurt Hinz, Minnesota Incident Command System Task Force, Dept. of Natural Resources

Safety grant applications information, program to be modified

The Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) announces that the current deadline for filing an application
for a safety grant is May 15, 2000. Employers covered by workers’ compensation insurance and self-
insured employers are eligible to apply for safety/health matching grants to abate safety hazards in their
workplaces. The safety/health hazards must have been identified in an on-site survey conducted by one
of the following: MNOSHA safety/health investigator, DLI Workplace Safety Consultation safety/
health consultant, in-house employee safety/health committee, workers’ compensation underwriter, private
safety/health consultant, or a person under contract with the Assigned Risk Plan.
The on-site safety/health survey must have resulted in specifically recommended safety practices or
equipment designed to reduce the risk of injury to employees. Costs eligible for program participation
are all or part of the cost of purchasing and installing recommended safety/health equipment, the cost of
operating or maintaining safety/health equipment and/or the cost of purchasing or renting real property,
if necessary, to meet criteria established by the on-site safety/health survey. Program development,
training and education, and employee costs will not be covered by this round of grants.
Grants are limited to a total maximum match of $10,000 per project per state fiscal year (July 1 to June
30). The employer must provide at least $1 (one dollar) in project costs for every dollar awarded; no
grant will be awarded for more than half the amount of the approved project. Projects will be judged
according to the criteria established under Minnesota Statutes section 79.253 and Minnesota Rules
parts 5203.0010 through 5203.0070. Qualified projects having the greatest impact and feasibility will
be given priority.
After May 15, 2000, DLI will modify its grant application process and will accept grant applications for
only two grant rounds per year. The next notice will state that grant applications will be accepted for the
next round only from Sept. 1, 2000 until the Nov. 15, 2000 deadline. Applications received prior to Sept.
1, 2000 will be returned. Grants will be processed and approximately two months after each deadline,
approvals will be announced.
For further information or to request a grant application, please contact Tracey Josephson, Grants
Administrator, at (651) 215-1097, 1-800-731-7232 or at tracey.josephson@state.mn.us. Visit the DLI
Web site to print a safety grant application book, at www.doli.state.mn.us/wsc.html.
LogSafe Newsletter 7 Spring 2000
 Minnesota OSHA Offices 200 Logs/Posters (651) 296-1096

St. Paul 1-877-470-OSHA Fed Publications (202) 219-4667

443 Lafayette Road N.(651) 284-5050
St Paul, MN 55155 MN Rules (651) 297-3000
1-800-652-9747
Duluth (218) 723-4678
5 N. Third Ave. W.
Work Comp 1-800-DIAL-DLI
Suite 402
Hotline 1-800-342-5354
Duluth, MN 55802
Mankato (507) 389-6501 LogSafe Program 1-888-234-1217
410 Jackson St., #520 New Address:
Mankato, MN 56001 LogSafe Program
Ironworld Discovery Center
Workplace Safety 1-800-657-3776 Hwy 169/P.O. Box 392
Consultation (651) 284-5060 Chisholm, MN 55719-0392

Safety grant cuts costs

Johnson Timber Harvesting, Inc., of Culver, Minn.,
purchased a new delimber in Spring 1999 with the
assistance of a $10,000 safety grant from the
Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.

LogSafe is now online.

Please visit our Web site: www.doli.state.mn.us

LogSafe is a publication of the Minnesota Department of Labor and

Industry. Its purpose is to help the logging industry establish and maintain
safe and healthy work environments. This newsletter can be made
available in alternative formats by calling 1-800-DIAL-DLI or
(651) 297-4196/TTY.

LogSafe Newsletter 8 Spring 2000

Bulk Rate
Communications Office U.S. Postage
PAID
443 Lafayette Road North
Permit No. 171
St. Paul, MN 55155 St. Paul, MN

LogSafe Newsletter 8 Spring 2000