Logging Companies Can Get a Break From L&I Rates

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A new Logger Safety Taskforce is offering logging companies in Washington the chance to get a break in their workers’ compensation premium rates, according to Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries.

The taskforce is offering the break via a Logger Safety Program that offers financial incentives to manual-logging companies that participate in the program.

Participating manual-logging employers could reduce their workers’ compensation premium rates by 10 percent beginning as soon as January 2014 if they enroll in December, with another 10 percent discount possible after meeting the criteria, L&I said in a news release.

A free workshop about the Logger Safety Program will be held on Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 730 NW Liberty Place, Chehalis. Pre-registration is recommended but not required.

The workshop is hosted by the members of the Logger Safety Taskforce.



Jerry Bonagofsky of the Washington Contract Loggers’ Association will be the presenter.

According to L&I, the taskforce is comprised of logging industry employers and landowners in a partnership with L&I and the Department of Natural Resources.

The group formed earlier this year to reduce the frequency and severity of injuries, prevent deaths and explore options to reduce workers’ compensation costs in the manual-logging industry.

There was an urgent need for action because workers in manual logging have more frequent and more severe injuries than in other industries, L&I said in the news release.

For more information or to register for a workshop, visit: www.LoggerSafety.org.