PLC Member Weekly Update February 16, 2024

In this Issue:

2024 Spring Safety Trainings – Register Now!

PLC Annual Awards – Accepting Nominations Now!

Winthrop lawmaker pitches $50M fund for Maine small businesses hammered by recent severe storms – PLC Testifies in Support

The Logger’s Voice – Winter 2024

PLC Annual Meeting – Save the Date & Book your room!

Northeastern Loggers’ Expo

Cost Calculators – Members Only

PLC Store – NEW Small First Aid Pack

Safety Resources – Safety First!

Maine – Latest News

Vermont – Latest News

Classified listings – Send us your listings!

Member Discounts – Many to choose from

2024 Safety Trainings

Have you checked out what the PLC has to offer your company for Safety Resources lately? Many of these materials are in the Members-Only section of the PLC website. You will need to create an account HERE to access them if you have not already done so. PLEASE SHARE THIS MATERIAL WITH YOUR EMPLOYEES!

2024 PLC Spring Safety Trainings: The Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) is pleased to offer Logger, Fleet and CPR Safety Training to all PLC Members and Master Loggers March 28-May 17 in 2024!

By now you should have received registration forms in the mail and may also register online if you have not already done so. Please review our Logger and Fleet offerings and return registration forms as soon as possible, but no later than March 15, 2024 to ensure there is room for your employees at the chosen location/s. Don’t delay! Register now!

FOR SCHEDULE AND ONLINE REGISTRATION CLICK HERE

IF YOU PREFER TO REGISTER ON PAPER CLICK HERE

Do you know a person or business involved in the logging industry who ought to be recognized for service to the community, outstanding professionalism or service to the industry? If you do, please NOMINATE THEM for one of the PLC’s annual awards.

PLC Logging Contractor of the Year Award – The PLC Logging Contractor of the Year award recognizes a PLC Logging Contractor for their commitment to the sustainability of the industry and logging as a profession.

PLC Community Service Award – This Award is given annually to a PLC member, Supporting Member or affiliated organization that has demonstrated a significant commitment to giving back to their community.

PLC Supporting Member of the Year Award – The PLC Supporting Member of the Year Award is presented annually to a PLC Supporting Member who has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to logging contractors in the Northeast.

Nominations should be received no later than March 29, 2024.

Awards will be presented at the PLC Annual Meeting on May 10 at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, ME.

A list of previous winners is available HERE

NOMINATION FORM HERE

Winthrop lawmaker pitches $50M fund for Maine small businesses hammered by recent severe storms

The PLC Testified in Support.

“Loggers across Maine have also been hit hard by the storms and would benefit from state funding, said Dana Doran, executive director of the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast.

He said a survey of loggers in Maine showed $2.6 million in storm-related losses, with the average for each company totaling about $51,000.

That’s because the storms closed roads and made bridges impassable, forcing the loggers to drive long distances — he mentioned one 80-mile detour — to get to local mills.

He also suggested the creation of a reclamation project because there are a lot of trees on the ground that will rot if they are not removed.

“The recent severe weather events and warmer than normal winters have spelled disaster for logging contractors in Maine,” Doran said. “To our knowledge, there are no relief programs, either federal or state, to help the logging community like there are for other agricultural businesses.””

To read the full article click here.

Humpday Safety Video

Read the Winter 2024 Issue

This year, the PLC Annual Meeting, Dinner, Awards Ceremony and Live Log A Load Auction will be held on May 9 – 10, 2024at the Samoset Resort in Rockport! Please be sure to block the dates in your calendars.

We are planning for a fun social event on Thursday, so stay tuned for more updates.

Below is the reservation link for early booking information.

Reservation Booking Link:

Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast

Code: 051024plcm

Northeastern Loggers’ Association Expo 2024

PLC Members Only!

Equipment Cost Calculators Available

Members,

With expenses rising rapidly in the industry we know you are struggling to get a handle on your costs. This is a great time to utilize the cost calculators created in 2021 for PLC Members.

These new, easy to use, logging equipment and log trucking cost calculators are available on the PLC Members Only section of our web site You may access this private section of the web site with your member login or set up a login HERE.

These calculators allow you to quickly estimate the hourly cost of operation for any piece of your equipment.

DISCLAIMER: These calculators are being made available for your business use as a member benefit. They produce equipment estimates and are not official products of the PLC nor should they be used for negotiation purposes.

PLC Online Store

Looking for great PLC items and apparel? Gifts? First Aid packs, safety items and more? You will find them at the new PLC Online Store on our web site. Ordering is easy.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Safety Resources

SafetyWorks!

Workplace safety and labor law requirements can seem complex – join the Maine Department of Labor for no-cost upcoming trainings!

Upcoming classes:

Respiratory Protection –

February 27, 2024 | 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

Where workers are required to wear respirators to do their jobs, employers need a respiratory protection program. This course helps you determine your respiratory protection needs and covers all the elements of a written respiratory protection program.

Wage & Hour Compliance –

February 28, 2024 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Lewiston CareerCenter, 5 Mollison Way, Lewiston

This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. Labor laws can be complex. This seminar covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, rest breaks, leave requirements (earned paid leave, family medical leave, family sick leave and leave for victims of violence). This class addresses commonly asked labor-related questions.

Register and browse more SafetyWorks! classes: https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/training/scheduled_classes/register.shtml

If you have questions about safety or upcoming classes, reach out to SafetyWorks! at 1-877-SAFE-345 or general.bls-safetyworks@maine.gov.

If you have questions about Wage and Hour compliance, please reach out to the Wage and Hour Division at 207-623-7900 or bls.mdol@maine.gov, or visit www.maine.gov/labor/bls/.

Cross Insurance TPA – Loss Control Services SIG Safety Training March 2024

March 19th

VIA ZOOM

9:00am – 11:00am

Sexual Harassment – Ethics and Workplace Respect Presented by: Career Management Associates

This program will help employers comply with all forms of harassment and hostile‐free work environments as outlined in Federal and State laws. This workshop opens with a review of the current climate on the issue of harassment. Employers will learn to comply with federal and state anti‐discrimination laws as well as offer strategies for preventing harassment in your organization. The program covers all Maine State requirements from the MOL for Sexual Harassment training. Additionally, this program also includes how an organization’s ethics, as well as a culture of workplace respect, is critical to long term success.

Who Should Attend? Managers/Supervisors; Human Resource Directors; Safety Coordinators Program Fee: $75/pp

Registration Information

To register for the March 19th session please copy and paste the link listed below to your web browser. If this does not work return to the original email and select the link located there.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsdeyqpz0qH9UI2Eg3MlBilPF6hrs9QSfp

Please register by March 11th. Maximum of 80 attendees per session. If you have any questions or issues with registering, please e‐mail us at

tpa‐trainings@crossagency.com

Note: In case of inclement weather, please call 1‐800‐698‐3267 Ext 1021 to get a recorded message about training cancellation.

New Small PLC Operator/Driver First Aid Pack!

In response to demand for a smaller/”must have in an emergency” first aid pack to be stored in a machine or pickup, the PLC has created a new Operator/Driver First Aid Pack.

Contains “must have in an emergency” bleeding control items
One pack is recommended per machine/truck
Detachable velcro panel ideal for mounting in a machine or truck
Meets OSHA requirements for a logging first aid kit
Supplements PLC’s larger first aid back pack but is not a replacement

The PLC Member price is $69 plus tax and shipping (if it is not picked up by the contractor or delivered by the PLC). Color RED

More information on the pack and its contents is available HERE.

Get yours now by clicking HERE!

PLC Crew First Aid Backpack

PLC First Aid Pack: In response to widespread interest from members, we have created a PLC First Aid Pack that has everything you need for emergencies in the woods. This Military Elite Tactical Trauma First Aid Backpack was designed for the PLC by Paul Stewart – EMT Houlton, ME.

To order Click HERE

CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogens certification: Did you know your employees are required to have this training every two years? If your employees need this training in 2024, contact Jessica at Jessica@plcloggers.org or 207-688-8195 and the PLC will schedule training in your area. THIS TRAINING IS FREE TO MEMBERS!