PHOTO: Winter is the busy season for Ontario logging companies, with many logging trucks like the one above travelling on remote rural roads. INSET: Sign warns general public of dangers of forest access roads.
Public safety course designed to prevent snowmobile-truck collisions on busy Ontario logging roads
Safe Travel Near Industrial Roads snowmobile safety course - please download, print, and share information sheet
In March 2017, an Ontario snowmobiler died after colliding with a logging truck on a bush road. The Ontario Provincial Police reported that the deceased was travelling northbound along the road with a group of sledders when they encountered a southbound logging truck at a curve.
The first snowmobiler navigated the curve safely, but the second one crossed in front of the truck; the truck driver tried to avoid the collision, but the sled collided with the trailer, and the snowmobiler was transported to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
During the 2013-14 season, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation Annual Report states 19 drivers, two passengers, and two pedestrians were killed in a snowmobile collisions, and almost 300 were injured.
Industrial logging roads in northern Ontario are built, used, and maintained, to a high degree by forestry firms, but because almost all of the roads are on Crown land, the companies have made significant efforts to identify designated snowmobile crossings, active logging areas, and their related dangers to workers and the public; other industrial road users include mining companies, rail and telecommunications companies.
'Safe Travel Near Industrial Roads' course for snowmobile club members and volunteers
‘Safe Travel Near Industrial Roads’ is a half-day course that reviews the hazards of driving recreational, personal, or company vehicles on commercial industrial roads. The course material describes defensive driving techniques for driving on industrial roads in all seasons as well as general safety principles on these roads.
Course topics
- Characteristics and types of industrial roads
- Duties and rights of drivers
- Types of vehicles travelling on industrial roads and legislation
- Safe, defensive, and seasonal driving practices
- Components of a circle check
- Radio communication system
Plus specific safety considerations to take into account when operating:
- Snowmobile
- All-terrain vehicle (ATV)
- Passenger-carrying vehicle
- Service truck or personal vehicle
- Loaded haul truck
The material is delivered in a classroom format with a PowerPoint presentation and a video segment. There are opportunities for group discussion, and question and answer sessions.
The course is $86.00 per person. For groups larger than eight participants, please inform your local WSN Health and Safety Specialist to receive a special group rate. To arrange training for your club members and volunteers, please contact the Workplace Safety North health and safety specialist in your area: workplacesafetynorth.ca/consulting/find-your-specialist
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