The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has

signed a two year alliance with the Louisiana Forestry Association and its logging contractors,

the Louisiana Logging Council. This alliance is designed to provide safety and health programs

to protect Louisiana logging workers from industry hazards through training and outreach

programs. These hazards include amputation, sprains, and cuts.

“When we first started working with the logging industry in the late 1990s, we were seeing more

logging fatalities – Louisiana was averaging one every two months. Compare that to last year,

when we saw one for the entire year,” said Dorinda Folse, OSHA’s area director in Baton Rouge.

“Transitioning to a formal alliance will let us build on the work already being done to reduce

deaths, and to work as a group to provide training that helps to keep these loggers safe.”

This alliance could have serious implications for logging companies in Louisiana, as there will

now be a heightened focus on this industry in this area. So if you own a logging company in

Louisiana, it is imperative you understand how this alliance will impact you, and what steps must

be taken to ensure your company is fully OSHA compliant. The last thing you want is a

workplace injury or fatality during a time of heightened scrutiny; not only will one of your

employees be impacted, but the fines will be significant.

If you have any questions about this partnership or occupational safety and health in general,

please contact us. If you have anything to add about the partnership, please leave a comment/.