Washington Administrative Code › Title 296 - Labor and Industries, Department of › Chapter 296-17A - Classifications for Washington workers' compensation insurance › Section 296-17A-5005 - Classification 5005

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
5005-00 Logging and/or tree thinning - Mechanized
				operations
(
to be assigned only by classification services
				staff
)
Applies to establishments engaged in mechanized logging or tree
				thinning operations. For purposes of this classification, mechanized logging is
				defined as the entire process of felling, removal (skidding), yarding,
				processing, delimbing, bucking and loading of trees/logs by machine. This
				classification can be used by a logging contractor only if the entire side is
				being logged using methods and equipment described in this rule. If any portion
				of the side is being logged by conventional methods the entire operation must
				be reported in classification 5001 - Logging, N.O.C. or 5005-01 Logging Machine
				Operators.
For example
, an employer that subcontracts to fell
				trees with a feller/buncher or processor but is not involved in the removal
				(skidding) of the trees, the processing (delimbing and bucking) of the trees
				and the loading of trees is excluded from classification 5005-00 and is to be
				reported in classification 5001 - Logging, N.O.C. or 5005-01 Logging Machine
				Operators. Any employer whose operation includes any manual felling, removal,
				processing, or loading of trees is excluded from classification 5005-00 and is
				to be reported in classification 5001 - Logging, N.O.C. Work contemplated by
				this classification includes the falling of trees with a machine such as a
				feller buncher or processor; skidding logs to the landing with use of a grapple
				skidder or forwarder; delimbing logs with a mechanized delimber such as a
				stroke delimber, processor, CTR or harvester; and loading logs onto log trucks
				with a mechanical loader or shovel. Equipment used by employers subject to this
				classification will consist of the following:
Feller/buncher
- Used to fell trees and place
				felled trees into stacks (bunches) for removal to the log landing for further
				processing. The operator of this machine does not leave the cab of the machine
				in the performance of duties in the logging operation.
Processor
- Used to fell trees, delimb them,
				buck tree to desired log length and stack the bunches for removal to the
				landing where they will be segregated by general grade and loaded onto log
				trucks. A processor is sometimes used at the landing to delimb trees and buck
				them to log length, especially when the trees are felled by a feller/buncher.
				The operator of this machine does not leave the cab of the machine in the
				performance of duties in the logging operation.
Grapple skidder
- Is used to remove (ground
				skid) stacks (bunches) of felled trees from the woods to the landing. The
				industry refers to both the skidder and the bulldozers as a tractor. The two
				are distinguished from one another in that the skidder is a tire-driven tractor
				and the bulldozer is a track-driven tractor. A bulldozer equipped with a
				grapple is an acceptable piece of equipment to be used in the removal of trees.
				The operator of either the grapple skidder or bulldozer equipped with grapple
				does not leave the cab of the machine in the performance of duties in the
				logging operation.
Forwarder
- Is used to remove logs as cut by a
				processor from the woods to an awaiting log truck or to be stacked in piles for
				a future pick up by a log truck. This is a small specialized tractor equipped
				with a self-loader and a log bunk. The operator of this machine does not leave
				the machine in the performance of duties in the logging operation.
Harvester
- Is used at the landing of the
				logging side to delimb trees and buck trees to desired log length. This machine
				can also be used to load logs onto log trucks. The operator of this machine
				does not leave the cab of the machine in the performance of duties in the
				logging operation.
Loader
- Is used at the landing to load logs
				onto log trucks. The operator of this machine does not leave the cab of the
				machine in the performance of duties in the logging operation.
This classification excludes log hauling which is to be
				reported separately in classification 5003, logging road construction which is
				to be reported separately in classification 6902, logging machine operators
				which are to be reported separately in classification 5005-01, and logging
				operations which are to be reported separately in classification 5001.
Special notes
:
If any portion of
				the logging contract is performed manually or by hand, the establishment does
				not qualify for this classification. If any portion of the logging contract is
				subcontracted out to another business and is performed manually or by hand,
				then none of the businesses involved in the logging contract will qualify for
				this classification and are to be reported separately in classification 5001 or
				5005-01.
All equipment used by employers subject to this classification
				must meet WISHA guidelines for Roll Over Protection Standards (ROPS) and
				Falling Object Protection Standards (FOPS).
See classification 5206 (WAC 296-17-675) for permanent
				shop/yard operations.
5005-01 Logging machine operators
(
to be assigned only by classification services
				staff
)
This classification applies to employees of a logging company
				that does not qualify as a mechanized operation but operates equipment such as
				a feller buncher, processor, forwarder, skidder, log loader, or tower and who
				are in a protective cab. This classification also applies to firms who contract
				with logging firms to provide such equipment and operators to a logging side.
				The operator does not leave the cab to perform duties as part of the logging
				operation. Equipment used by employers subject to this classification are
				required to meet WISHA guidelines for roll over protection standards (ROPS) and
				falling object protection standards (FOPS).
This classification excludes all logging activities being
				performed on the ground which are to be reported separately in classification
				5001.
Special note
:
This classification
				does not apply to classification 5005-00 "logging and/or tree thinning -
				mechanical operations" whereby logging activities are performed exclusively by
				machine and no employees are on the ground.
Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				  51.16.035 and
				  51.16.100. 09-24-082, §
				  296-17A-5005, filed 11/30/09, effective 1/1/10. 07-01-014, recodified as §
				  296-17A-5005, filed 12/8/06, effective 12/8/06; 06-12-075, § 296-17-66003,
				  filed 6/6/06, effective 7/7/06. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   51.04.020,
				  51.16.035, and
				  51.12.120. 03-23-025, §
				  296-17-66003, filed 11/12/03, effective 1/1/04. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   51.16.035,
				  51.04.020. 00-14-052, §
				  296-17-66003, filed 7/1/00, effective 7/1/00. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				  51.16.035. 98-18-042, § 296-17-66003,
				  filed 8/28/98, effective 10/1/98. Statutory Authority:
				  RCW
				   51.04.020(1) and
				  51.16.035. 94-12-051, §
				  296-17-66003, filed 5/27/94, effective
				  7/1/94.