Northwest Forest Worker Center

Programs: Training forest workers in occupational safety and healthduring the past year the northwest forest worker centers community health workers trained 241 workers in the forestry services industry in southern oregons rogue valley for a total of 321 hours of training. The topic covered in the training was preventing struck by object accidents while thinning forest stands. Being struck by an object (usually a falling tree or branch) is the leading cause of injury among forest workers. We used state-of-the-art training technology to show videos to workers about real accidents forest workers had suffered. The videos were told in the voices of the workers who actually experienced the accidents. The trainers engaged workers in discussions about how the accidents could have been prevented and presented information to promote safer work techniques. Interviews with workers 3 to 6 months after the trainings suggest that they work more cautiously and relay information they learned in the trainings to their coworkers and friends. Direct assistance to membersin 2017 we assisted forest workers recover wages owed to them, helped injured workers navigate the workers compensation system, and referred workers to legal counsel to help them resolve workplace issues. Outreach and education to the publicin 2017 nfwc staff attended and/or convened monthly meetings, conducted canvassing campaigns to educate the public about forest worker issues, and tabled at several public events dispensing information about forest worker and harvester issues, workers rights, and occupational safety and health. Nfwc staff also conducted and/or attended meetings with agency officials and state legislators to educate them about the realities of forest work.