PLC Member Weekly Update August 18, 2023

Southern Maine Log A Load Golf Tournament 2023

The PLC’s 2023 Log A Load for Maine Kids Southern Maine Golf Tournament is only one week away and we are pleased to report it is sold out except two sponsorships with teams are still available! Help us help Maine kids!

The tournament will be held Aug. 25 in Lovell at Lake Kezar Country Club. Click the link below to sponsor or learn more or call Jessica at 207-688-8195! See you at the tournament!

Sponsor/Tournament details – Aug. 25, Kezar Lake Country Club, Lovell

PLC Member Alert – Adaptive BMP Cooperative (ABC)

PLC Members,

If any of you are contacted and asked to participate in the Maine Forest Service Adaptive BMP Cooperative (ABC), we ask that you please contact PLC Exec. Director Dana Doran first to discuss this before agreeing to do so. 

The ABC’s predecessor, the Forest Access Institute, was initially developed without the input or knowledge of the PLC, despite requests over a three year timeframe from the PLC to learn more and participate. The ABC was then created to replace the Forest Access Institute due in part to the objections of the PLC due to the lack of sufficient representation for loggers in the process. 

The PLÇ is concerned with this initiative and has respectfully declined participation as we believe this will not benefit contractors, nor their employees, and might be an attempt to use taxpayer dollars to track contractors for the benefit of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).

Please call or text Dana at (207)-441-3621 or email executivedirector@maineloggers.com if you are approached to join this group. Thank you.

Reminder: Employees Under 18 and Hazardous Occupations

Members, this is a reminder that under the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, companies cannot employ people under the age of 18 unless it is in non-hazardous occupations. As many of you have read in recent news articles including this one in the Portland Press Herald, a Maine logging company was among companies recently penalized for not following the law on under-18 employees. This can be an expensive mistake at a time when you are already facing too many expenses. If you have any questions on this issue, please do not hesitate to contact the PLC. Thank you.

The Logger’s Voice Summer 2023

Now Available!

The Summer 2023 edition of The Logger’s Voice is now available! Copies have been mailed out!

Feller buncher volunteer instructors needed! Short-term commitment!

Good Morning PLC Members,

Just a quick update on the Mechanized Logging Operations and Forest Trucking Program (MLOFT) and a call for action to all of you.  

As you are likely aware, MLOFT began in Milford, ME at Randall Madden Trucking’s garage on Monday, June 26th with 14 students. The next four weeks were focused on CDL training with a sprinkling of traditional Donald Burr logging fare. The students have now migrated to the woods and are training on harvesting equipment. 

Donald reports that they currently have three instructors and possibly another part-time instructor but are still seeking 1-2 more with experience on feller buncher and crane/slasher. Feller buncher instructors are needed the most. With operations commencing in the woods, this void has put Donald between a rock and a hard place with not enough instructors for the number of students in the program. I know, many of you will say, welcome to the club.

To assist with this void, I told Donald that I would reach out to the Members to see if all of you, or some of your best buncher or crane operators, could potentially volunteer to act as a guest instructor for 2-5 days over the next 10 weeks. If we can get one of you or one of your employees to volunteer to instruct, we could fill this void very quickly. Donald even has funds to help pay for hotel rooms if that would help defer cost. 

If you are willing to help or can volunteer one of your better employees to help Donald for a few days, we could quickly take care of this issue and put together a schedule that works for everyone. 

If you can do this, please contact Donald at (207) 356-1541, or email myself (executivedirector@maineloggers.com) or Jess (jessica@maineloggers.com) and let us know if this is possible and how many days you might be able to commit to. We can put together a schedule from there. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

ALC 2023 Annual Meeting October 4-6 in Maine!

Register Now!

Registration is now open for the 2023 American Loggers Council Conference and Membership Meeting at the Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine October 4-6!

American Loggers Council President and long-time PLC Board Member Andy Irish and his wife Kathy look forward to hosting timber industry representatives for the peak “Leaf Peeping” season. Rooms are available to book and the preliminary agenda is now available. More information will be coming soon, meanwhile the event packet is available HERE and links for registration and rooms are available below! (For guests who would like to call to book their reservation. Please call 800-207-2365 and refer to Group Code 86B5IN.)

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

PLC Upcoming Meetings

PLC Full Board Meeting

Sept. 14

Location TBD, Bangor ME

PLC Safety Posters! Are yours up yet?

Posters don’t work until they’re up on a wall, like these at Pope Woods Forestry or the one below at Elliot Jordan and Son! Send pictures of yours to office@maineloggers.com

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 2023, contact Jessica at Jessica@maineloggers.com or 207-688-8195 and the PLC will schedule training in your area. THIS TRAINING IS FREE TO MEMBERS!

Now FREE to Maine Loggers! A $300 value!

LEARN MORE

Dear Employer,

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

Upcoming classes:

• Fire Service Respiratory Protection: August 21, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

• This half-day class will cover the OSHA respiratory protection standard, state statutes, and agency rules relating to the fire service’s use of SCBAs. Other topics include written programs, medical clearances, fit testing, facial hair, two-in and two-out, annual training requirements, flow and hydrostatic testing requirements, weekly/monthly checks, the OSHA and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) rules for breathing air compressors, licensing, maintenance and recordkeeping.

• Improving Your Safety Training Program: August 22, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

• An effective safety training program will lead to positive effects on safety knowledge and the adoption of safe work practices and behaviors. This one-day training assists safety professionals and safety committees learn how to analyze their audience, update on new training techniques, and develop top notch training programs.

• Public Sector Compliance: August 23, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m., Virtual
• This assistance program is for state, county, municipal, and quasi-municipal employers, managers, and employees. The program is an overview of public-sector employer responsibilities including injury/fatality reporting, written programs, training, equipment/facility inspections, and recordkeeping.

• Impairment Detection Training for Employers: August 24, 2023 from 8:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. at the Portland CareerCenter, 151 Jetport Blvd, Portland
• This one-day training session is designed to help owners, managers, and supervisors recognize and respond appropriately to employee-impairment in the workplace in order to reduce worker accidents and injuries. Participants will be taught procedures to detect impairment regardless of the substance or cause. This class is designed to fulfill the federal DOT requirements for reasonable suspicion training of supervisors. In addition, participants will learn how to develop and implement policies that address impairment in the workplace and are in compliance with Maine’s Substance Use Testing Law. 

• A Practical Approach to Electrical Safety: August 28, 2023 from 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

• In this half-day class, you will learn how to protect workers from electrical hazards. NFPA 70E requirements will be discussed in layman’s terms.

• Scaffolding and Fall Protection: August 29, 2023 from 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
• This course covers the OSHA requirements for scaffolding and fall protection, including the definition of “competent person.”

• NFPA #1 Fire Code: August 31, 2023 from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta

• This one-day course provides overview training to fire fighters and emergency response personnel. This multi-part document has 16 sections to safeguard life and protect property from dangerous conditions caused by fire and explosion. Other fire codes including NFPA 101, 57, 58, 30, 13, 25, and 72 are referred to in this code.

SafetyWorks! is also a host site for the Region 1 OSHA Training Institute Education Center. The next class will be:

• August 18: 205 Chainsaw Safety & Tree Felling

To register go to www.oshaedne.com or call 800-449-6742.  Please note, these classes have a registration fee to attend.

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/.  

Thank you,

     The Maine Department of Labor

FMCSA has removed four ELDs from the list of registered Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)

Motor carriers and drivers using ALL TRUCKERS ELD, GOLDEN ELD, PRIMELD, and SECURE ELD devices have 60 days to replace the revoked devices with compliant ELDs.

On July 25, 2023, FMCSA removed the four ELDs from the list of registered ELDs due to the companies’ failure to meet the minimum requirements established in 49 CFR part 395, subpart B, appendix A.

Motor carriers and drivers who use the ELDs must take the following actions:

Discontinue using the revoked ELDs and revert to paper logs or logging software to record required hours of service data.

Replace the revoked ELDs with compliant ELDs from the Registered Devices list before September 23, 2023.

Motor carriers and drivers who continue to use the revoked ELDs listed above on or after September 23, 2023, will be in violation of 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1)—“No record of duty status” and drivers will be placed out-of-service in accordance with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) OOS Criteria.

If the ELD providers correct all identified deficiencies, FMCSA will place the ELDs back on the Registered Devices list and inform the industry and the field. However, FMCSA strongly encourages motor carriers to take the actions listed above now to avoid compliance issues in the event that these deficiencies are not addressed in time.

Questions?

Contact ELD@dot.gov.

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FMCSA has reinstated GOLDEN ELD to the list of registered Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs).

As of July 25, 2023, the following device is now listed on the list of registered ELDs. The ELD was previously revoked but has been reinstated.

ELD Name: GOLDEN ELD
ELD Model number: GRS
ELD Identifier: GRS199
ELD Provider: GOLDEN ELD

Commentary: Proposed California rule ignores need for technology to meet business consumers’ demands

Rushing the adoption of zero-emissions vehicles will hurt industries that support countless Maine families and do little to help our environment.

Need to Create a Bird Habitat? Call a Professional Logger

Sustainably managed forests with periodic logging by professional loggers create the habitat for multiple bird species and many other plants and animals.

FOR/Maine Coalition wins grant to boost Maine’s forest product workforce

Up to 1300 jobs will be needed in emerging forest-related industries over the next decade.

The Northern Logger Aug. 17

       Will Forests Stop Absorbing More Carbon Than They Emit? – Scientific American

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ALC Member Discounts

PLC Members, because the PLC is a member of the American Loggers Council YOU are entitled to special discounts! CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

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Fabian Oil Discount

Wallingford’s Discounts

Maine Trailer Discounts

PLC Members get a 5% discount on culverts purchased at Treeline and Frank Martin & Sons

Hale Trailer discounts for PLC Members on new trailer purchases! Call Neal at 207-232-7969 for details!

Cross Arena Discounts for PLC! 

PLC Classified Section

Check out the equipment and job opportunities our members have listed at the LOGGING ZONE! If you have equipment for sale, are looking to buy, are looking for employees, or