WOOD CHIPPER/GRINDER SAFETY VIDEO

RELEASE: December 7, 2009

CONTACT: Neil Ward (301/838-9385)
nward@forestresources.org

Rockville, MD — The North Carolina Forestry Association has produced a 21-minute Wood Chipper/Grinder Safety Video, to orient logging personnel and others about the hazards of working with, and working in the vicinity of, this equipment. The Video comes with a Guide to help a Discussion Leader use the Video as a resource for a one-hour training workshop.

The Forest Resources Association distributes the Video, in DVD format, nationwide. Each DVD contains two versions of the Video, one with English and one with Spanish narration.

"The growing focus on biomass production makes it crucial to ramp up training programs about the common hazards this type of equipment exposes personnel to," commented Vickie Hoffart, FRA's staff liaison for the Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety Foundation, which supported the Video's production. "Wood chippers, tub grinders, and other grinding or mulching equipment are becoming more common on logging jobs."

The Video addresses personal protective equipment, doing an equipment safety check, assessing the site for hazards, being aware of other workers and equipment in the operating area, limitations and operating parameters of the equipment, basic maintenance, "situations to avoid," log deck layout, lock-out/tag-out procedures, and transporting the equipment.

In addition to THATS, the producers thank Vaughan Utilities of Wake Forest, North Carolina; the NC Department of Labor — OSH Division; Bandit Industries; Cahoon Logging; and Weyerhaeuser Company for their support.

FRA members may order the Wood Chipper/Grinder Safety Video (DVD format) and Guide at $50 apiece, or $100 apiece for non-members. Please enclose payment with order, checks payable to "FRA"; charge orders may be faxed to 301/838-9481. Direct orders to Forest Resources Association Inc., 600 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 350, Rockville, MD 20852, and refer to stock number 09-A-7.

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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600 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 350, Rockville, MD  20852
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