This paper presents the productivity and utilization of a system comprising a skidder and an assisting self-propelled winch working on steep terrain. Environmental impact is also assessed for both conventional and winch-assisted skidding.
Since 2000, all tractors and trailers manufactured in Canada are required to have anti-lock braking system (ABS).
It is difficult to keep these systems operational in off-highway applications such as log-hauling.
The most frequent issues with these systems involve wheel-speed sensors and wiring.
This guide provides a brief overview of these issues and recommends best practices for maintaining these systems.
Au Canada, la majeure partie du transport forestier doit passer sur les routes publiques au cours de leurs cycles de travail et ces camions interagissent donc avec les usagers de la route et subissent les risques inhérents à la conduite dans une circulation plus dense. Les caméras de bord sont un outil de sécurité relativement nouveau.
This study identified footwear appropriate for Alberta wildland firefighters and assessed the need for protective toecaps on their footwear. Hazard and risk of foot injuries were assessed, and recommendations are made.
FERIC a évalué un débardeur à câble équipé d’un treuil à double tambour et d’une radiocommande dans des opérations de coupe partielle de feuillus. L’augmentation de productivité a atteint jusqu’à 32 % selon la technologie utilisée, et la baisse de perturbation du terrain jusqu’à 40%. L’occupation par les sentiers et les dommages aux arbres résiduels ont également diminué (de jusqu’à 53 % et 79 %, respectivement). Les opérateurs montaient dans la machine beaucoup moins souvent, d’où une amélioration de la sécurité. Les télécommandes sont rentables pour toutes les machines, mais les treuils à double tambour coûtent probablement trop cher pour être installés sur de vieilles machines.
RFAD, a Quebec company, is offering The Bat, its new warning system for in-woods traffic. This easy-to-use system warns drivers of approaching vehicles. When combined with existing communication systems, it should increase the level of traffic safety on forest roads.
FERIC assessed a cable skidder with a dual-drum winch and radio remote control in hardwood partial-cutting operations. Productivity increased by up to 32% depending on the technology used, and ground disturbance decreased by up to 40%. Trail occupancy and damage to residual trees also decreased (by up to 53% and 79%, respectively). Operators entered the machine significantly fewer times, thereby improving safety. Remote controls are cost-effective for any machine, but dual-drum winches are probably too costly to install on older machines.
There is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of using caulk boots vs. non-caulk hiking boots in silviculture work in the interior of British Columbia. WorkSafeBC regulation 8.23, states “caulked or other equally effective footwear must be worn by workers who are required to walk on logs, poles, pilings or other round timbers”, but does not specifically require caulk boots to be worn on steep slopes. Caulk boots are used almost exclusively by silviculture workers in coastal B.C. but are not commonly used in interior B.C. even though there are many situations where they may provide superior traction. Instead, workers in interior B.C. have a preference for non-caulk hiking boots. Workers will often select their boots based on personal preference rather than on information about the boot’s traction performance. Additional information regarding the differences in the traction of caulk boots and non-caulk hiking boots on various forest ground surfaces would help most workers make better-informed choices. Understanding the differences in traction is one of the most important factors when selecting a work boot in any situation and is especially true in the hazardous ground conditions of forest workers. For this reason, FPInnovations constructed a testing apparatus designed to measure and compare the static coefficient of friction of caulk boots and non-caulk hiking boots on four common types of ground cover surfaces in B.C. forests.
Auto tarping system has the potential to reduce tarping-related injuries. Therefore, in cooperation with the BC Bulk Haulers Injury Elimination Task Force, FPInnovations reviewed two prototype auto-tarping systems that will work on flow-through type B-trains. Initial observations for these systems were documented in this Info Note
