Forest Products
How WSN serves Ontario Forestry Industries
WSN provides occupational health and safety resources, training, ergonomic, and industrial hygiene support and consulting for Ontario’s forestry industries, including logging, sawmills, reforestation, silviculture, tree planting, veneer and plywood mills, as well as for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Free forestry health and safety resources, including guidelines, safety talks, posters, and more.
Forestry Health and Safety Risk Assessments and Root Cause Analyses
Sawmill sector - Top risk: Substance use
Logging sector - Top risk: Distracted driving
Hazard Alerts
Submit a Hazard Alert - WSN encourages companies to submit hazard alerts. WSN works with firms to draft a hazard alert for distribution to firms in similar industries.
Health and Safety Specialists
WSN Health and Safety Specialists are located across Ontario, and have an in-depth understanding of hazards associated with the forestry industry. Get expert help to identify, assess and control your hazards, and help your company achieve a vision of every worker, home safe and healthy.
Auditing – Safe Workplace Ontario (SWO)
The Safe Workplace Ontario (SWO) certification program, established in 1997, is a third-party health and safety designation program for Ontario businesses. This voluntary audit process allows forestry firms to continuously monitor and improve their health and safety programs and procedures. SWO provides specific health and safety standards to guide participating firms in their efforts to eliminate injuries and illnesses from their workplaces.
Training
WSN provides legislated training to meet Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) Modular Training program requirements for the forestry industry:
- Cutter Skidder
- Mechanical Harvesting Equipment Operator
- Forestry Pit and Road Construction Equipment Operator
WSN has also developed an extensive catalogue of training courses for the forestry industry, including: Introduction to Professional Chainsaw Operations, Control of Energy Hazards in Forestry Mills, Principles of Rigging, Hoisting and Towing on Logging Operations Online, Safe Planting, and Safe Travel on Logging Roads.
Industry Advisory Committee
The WSN Forest Products advisory committee meets four times a year to provide leadership and input to help influence future health and safety programs, products, and services in support of sector needs.
WSN also participates in various Canadian Standards Association (CSA) forestry related standards committees as well as on the industry-led Provincial Forestry Tripartite Committee which plays an integral role in the development of MTCU modular training programs for the forestry industry.
Health and Safety Excellence program
The WSN Health and Safety Excellence program provides Ontario businesses a clear roadmap on how to improve workplace health and safety. The Excellence program is a performance-based rebate program developed by the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), and participants can create safer workplaces, and earn both financial and non-financial rewards.
Latest News and Events
Stay connected and up to date on the latest health and safety news and upcoming events. Subscribe to Every Worker newsletter, and follow WSN on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, for breaking news.