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

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.