Forestry Falling and Bucking: Certification, Written Practices, and Critical Controls Under Part 26

Align falling/bucking operations with certification and critical controls, emphasizing supervision and planning.

Forestry manual falling is high risk. WorkSafeBC’s faller certification resources describe certification requirements and training pathways for fallers in BC. WorkSafeBC also publishes the BC Faller Training Standard, which includes PPE, MSI protection, procedures for falling scenarios, adverse weather, bucking hazards, and windthrow.

Certification is baseline, not the whole control system. Core controls include hazard assessment (tree defects, lean, wind), escape route planning, communication, traffic control where required, and stop-work triggers for changing conditions. Supervision must verify that critical controls are applied consistently, including PPE and safe distances between workers.

• Actionable takeaways

  Treat certification as entry-level requirement; require pre-fall hazard assessment and escape route planning; verify safe work procedures and PPE through supervisor checks and crew communication.