Alternative Forest Operations hosted a Forestry Climbing Demonstration last April in the Port Alberni region on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, that generated a lot of interest and attracted over 60 attendees from a variety of industry stakeholders. The location site was courtesy of Island Timberlands.

The intention of the Alternative Forest Operations demonstration was to communicate the entire complex nature of this task, how to control the associated safety hazards and risks, the required safety monitoring, and to generate industry-wide dialogue to move the issue of safety forward.

Topics covered included: On-site safety pre-work, site hazard assessment, medical evacuation procedures, wind-firming demonstration, aerial rescue demonstration, Billy Pugh extraction mock-up, review of climber gear, gear storage for transportation, gear certification requirements, climber safety audits, acceptable / unacceptable gear, and an open discussion.

Attendees included representatives from B.C. Forest Safety Council, WCB, BCTS, Compliance and Enforcement, Feric, Forest Practices Board, Vancouver Parks Board, as well as many divisional managers from various forest licensees throughout Vancouver Island.

Feedback received was both supportive and complementary. Quamichan Consulting commented, "Just a quick note to congratulate you on a fantastic demonstration; very thorough, very professional and most of all very compelling.  You accomplished what you set out to do and more.”

Ed Proteau, Forest Operations Extension Specialist at FP Innovations, FERIC Division / FORREX, said, "your Forestry Climber Demonstration was a first class event. Over 60 people from industry and government were able to see for themselves how a first class company can minimize safety risk with the proper training, equipment, procedures and the right people...Thanks for the invitation to a great demo!"