From WorkSafeBC’s new info sheet for treeplanters

Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs), such as sprains and strains, are the most common injuries to treeplanters. According to WorkSafeBC, planters’ repetitive-strain claims alone cost more than $870,000 and 8,621 lost days of work between 2003 and 2007.

Information for Tree planting & other silviculture is available online from WorkSafeBC – developed in partnership with the Western Silviculture Contractor’s Association, BC Forest Safety Council, FPInnovations, Brinkman & Associates Reforestation, Western Forest Products, and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

“If you suffer an MSI and cannot do your normal amount of work, you won’t be able to earn any money doing piecework,” reads Preventing Musculoskeletal Injuries in Silviculture: Worker.

I wrote about a treeplanter who got injured at work in my post Treeplanting lessons learned from experience. He suffered an MSI one year, and – after four months of healing – vowed to be ready for the next season. He strengthened his core muscles, with reminders via email from his company’s first aid attendant.

Pre-season training

Pre-season training is one of the recommendations in Fit to Plant – a program created by Dr. Delia Roberts, who studied the physical demands of treeplanting and shared what she learned about preventing injuries.

“The Fit to Plant program will keep you from getting hurt and help you plant hard all season long,” reads the program info.