Forest Operations > Conduct Skidder Operations > Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Requirements

Communication

Forest operations are conducted in an environment where communication is not always easy but essential.

Noise, terrain, lack of line of sight, poor visibility and remote locations all create problems for communications.

Verbal briefings of operators and frequent contact between workers can reduce stress and assist with hazard management.

If there was an emergency (fire/accident) good communication guidelines are extremely important and protocols must be put in place. For example:

• Fire: all workers must be notified of the situation and directed to the emergency assembly point for accountability.
• Accident:  Communication to company base of details, or direct communication to the nearest hospital must be put in place, and the procedure should be known by all workers.

Fig 17

Effective communication practices include:

• Radio communication between all workers and visitors to the worksite, (e.g.) UHF or CB radio. 
• Agreed hand signals, sounding of horn or the flashing of lights in operations such as moving and stopping a truck at a log dump.  
• Reliable emergency communication system e.g.: two-way radio to base or mobile telephone.

Step 1	Planning	Have radio communications been tested in the work location?
Step 2	Procedures	Are safe work areas and separation distances well understood by all    machine operators, truck drivers, and any other site workers?
Step 3	Responses	Is there a risk assessment procedure where work areas are entered by others
Step 4	Checks	Are checks of communication system regularly made?

Chart (C)

Occupational Health and Safety Activity #1

Download the activity by clicking the icon above. If the activity is slow to open right click the icon and select "Save Target As" and save the file to your computer before opening.

When complete please follow the instructions of your trainer\assessor or check your answers at the back of the Learner Guide.

Occupational Health and Safety Activity #2

Download the activity by clicking the icon above. If the activity is slow to open right click the icon and select "Save Target As" and save the file to your computer before opening.

When complete please follow the instructions of your trainer\assessor or check your answers at the back of the Learner Guide.