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WOOD HONORED FOR SAFETY
RELEASE: April 6, 2004
CONTACT: Neil Ward (301/838-9385)
nward@forestresources.org
Rockville, MD – On March 28, the Forest
Resources Association conferred its 2004 H.H. Jefferson Memorial Safety
Award on Andy Wood, of the Maine Employers Mutual Insurance Company, in
recognition of his leading role in developing and delivering safety
training to Maine loggers and forestry workers.
FRA Chairman Allen Bedell congratulated Andy at the Association’s Annual
Awards Dinner in New Orleans, Louisiana, providing a special plaque and
cash award from Denharco.
Andy thanked FRA and Denharco and praised evolving safety attitudes in
timber harvesting. “I’d just like to think we’ve turned the corner,” he
commented. “I’ve had contractors who have asked me, ‘how can I spend more
money on safety.’ They have reasons. One of the benefits has been
recruiting; the safety component was a real selling point. I hope they
realize that it’s a real benefit in the long run.”
Andy Wood has been a lead trainer for Maine’s Certified Logging
Professional (CLP) program for over 10 years, instructing more than 600
CLP loggers in the four-day certification program and providing “Train the
Trainer” instruction for CLP staff.
In addition, Andy has recertified 750 loggers in “Game of Logging” safe
chain saw operation and serves on the national Game of Logging Board of
Directors.
As a key participant in the FRA Migrant Labor Subcommittee, Andy was
instrumental in developing the Precommercial Thinning Safety Standard,
Training Requirements, and Field Compliance Standard for migrant workers.
Andy personally developed the Supervisor’s Safety and Van Driving Safety
courses to improve the awareness and knowledge of the common hazards
associated with precommercial thinning, tree planting, and worker
transportation.
During the summer of 2003, Andy developed a Thinning Saw Operator Safety
course. Because many of the workers have a limited knowledge of English,
he worked with an interpreter to translate course materials, including his
own narration, into Spanish.
Kenneth Fox, Safety & Health Manager for J.D. Irving Woodlands, says,
“Andy Wood is a champion for the industry. His perseverance and can-do
attitude have led and set the standard for the rapid advancement of
safety. He is a silent workhorse who deserves recognition for his
leadership.”
The Forest Resources Association Inc. is a nonprofit trade
association concerned with the safe, efficient, and sustainable harvest of
forest products and their transport from woods to mill. FRA represents
wood consumers, independent logging contractors, and wood dealers, as well
as businesses providing products and services to the forest resource-based
industries.
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