THINK SAFETY 2017

1st QUARTER

SECOND CHANCE $100 WINNERS

Robert Schmidt Billsby Lumber Company Brian Blake Blake Forest Products, Inc. Jason Triggs Blough Hardwoods, Inc. Jason Misner Central Michigan Hardwoods, Inc. Larry Kerridge Cutting Edge Forest Products, LLC. Josh Goodman Devereaux Sawmill, Inc. Dan Stolte Fairview Woodyard, LLC. Tedd Flees F J Flees & Son Plpwd & Log., Vincent Fisher D T Fowler Mfg Company, Inc. Robert Dewey Robert Gentz Forest Products, Inc. Dane Fosgard Lake Ann Hardwoods, Inc. John Brozak Hilberg Logging, Inc. Dennis Hansen Kell’s Wood Products, LLC. Duane Piche Lumber Jack Hardwoods, Inc.

Robert Ballard Maple Rapids Lumber Mill, Inc. David Fisher Maples Sawmill, Inc. Dakota Hoffman Minerick Logging, Inc. Ethan North Shawn Muma Logging, Inc. Shawn Hollister Northern Michigan Haws, Inc. Kevin Kortman Roth Builders, Inc. Ross Rothig Rothig Forest Products, Inc. Kristy Lester Shamco, Inc. Jim Sisko Sterling Sawyers, Inc. Dennis Baumler Nick & Brien Thoney Farm & For. Clare Sacheck Triest Forest Products, Inc. Troy Hall WD & D Versatile Wood Solutions Mark Cabanaw WJZ & Sons Harvesting, Inc. Brad Stedman Wolverine Hardwoods, Inc.

THINK SAFETY 2017

2nd QUARTER

SECOND CHANCE $100 WINNERS

Corey Bruce All Size Pallets, LLC. Jake Buffin Atwood Timber & Lumber, Inc. Tim LaJoie Beacom Enterprises, Inc. Dustin Bugg Dean Bugg Forest Products Co. Liz Traczyk Corullo Forest Products Corp Seth Lake Delta Packaging International, Inc. Art Krajniak Domrase Forest Products Vern Keson Faulkner Fabricators, Inc. Philip Klatt Giguere Logging, Inc. Berle Lapin Holli Forest Products, Inc. Scott Franti Mark Honkala Logging, Inc. Tom Lipke Housler Sawmill, Inc. Morley Johnson William J. Kallio Forest Products Dennis Hansen Kell’s Wood Products, LLC.

Tom McEvoy LaFleur Forest Products, LLC. George Flaugher Maeder Logging Dana Grant Michigan Pallet, Inc. Bruce Graham Jerome Miller Lumber Co. Daniel Hammand Minimum Impact Logging, Inc. Steve Papist Newberry Wood Enterprises Rebekah Manthei Northern Michigan Hdwds, Inc. Carl Outman Willie Outman For. Prod., LLC. Brian Garber Quality Cut Wd Specialties, Inc. Trevor St. John St John Forest Products, Inc. Randy Newberry Timberline Logging, Inc. Steve Smith U P Forest Management, Inc. Marlind Russell Wheeler’s Wolf Lk Sawmill, Inc. Jamie Caliguri Howard Wood Forest Prod., LLC.

Volume 17, Issue 1 May, 2017

13168 STATE HIGHWAY M-28 NEWBERRY MI 49868 1-800-711-7088 www.matsif.com

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Quality Hardwoods Hosts Legislative Tour ...................... 2 Special Merit Award Winners .......................................... 2 2017 Annual Convention by B. LeBoeuf .......................... 3 MATSIF Offers Training for SFI Credits .......................... 3 MATSIF Seminar at Annual Convention .......................... 4 New MATSIF Members ................................................... 4 MATSIF Board of Trustees .............................................. 4

Near Miss Could Have Been Fatal ................................... 5 Health Care Savings ........................................................ 5 Annual Convention 2017 by R. Newill .............................. 6 Spring—A Season of Opportunity .................................... 7 Safety Award/Special Merit Award Winners..................... 7 Think Safety Second Chance Winners ............................ 8

MATSIF PROCESSES OVER $1,000,000 IN DISTRIBUTIONS TO QUALIFYING MEMBERS

By: Barb Bennett

MATSIF recently returned $700,000 in surplus in addition to over $300,000 in premium discounts to qualifying members. These checks were processed and mailed out last week. We have been re-turning surplus and interest to the MATSIF membership since 1976 as evidenced by the check shown below. Total refunds to members have exceeded $67 million. It is you, the members, that have made this all possible by your attention and dedication to loss prevention. Congratulations to all of you and many thanks for your loyalty.

Page 2 Safety Log

QUALITY HARDWOODS, INC. HOSTS LEGISLATIVE TOUR By: Barb Bennett

Pictured left to right above is Will Borden, Luke Brogger, Rep. Tom Barrett, Rep. Eric Leutheuser, lobbyist Mike Compagnoni, and Scott Wiley, Legislative Aide to Rep. Leutheuser. Pictured right the Representatives take a look at the saw blades from Quality Hardwoods.

We were very pleased that board member, Luke Brogger, again offered to host a legislative tour at his facility, Quality Hardwoods, Inc., located in Sunfield, Michigan. Luke and his mill man-ager, Will Borden, took time out of their very busy day to give an in-depth tour to various legisla-tors that have been helpful to us in helping to draft language that would level the playing field for those in the forest products industry. By touring Quality Hardwoods, Inc., they were able to see first-hand what goes into operating a sawmill of this magnitude and the competitive advantage some have by avoiding workers’ compensation and other insurances, payroll taxes, and abiding by MIOSHA standards. Our thanks to our lobbyist Mike Compagnoni from Midwest Strategy Group for putting this to-gether for us as well as the legislators and staff that took time from their busy day to travel to Sunfield. We are very pleased that progress is being made on this issue.

Left: Rich Newill presenting Special Merit Award to Ron and Karen Atwood of Atwood Forest Products and Atwood Timber and Lumber. Right: Chairman Jim Carey presenting the Special Merit Award to the St. John Family of St. John Forest Products, Inc.

Volume 17, Issue 1 Page 7

Spring—A Season of Opportunity By: Rick Dessellier

Fall and spring are two of my favorite seasons. Fall, because of all its wonderful colors and outdoor opportuni-ties. It makes me feel a sense of accomplishment with all the warm weather projects done and the picnics and barbecues with family and friends. I enjoy the long days, having daylight from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. Still on most days there just isn’t enough time in the day for me to get everything done that I would like to.

Anyhow, the fall weather does help me shake off that feeling of not getting enough accomplished as I believe a lot of this carries over from my career in the woods. It’s hard to shut down a day when there is still daylight left. The long workdays that woods workers put in stems from setting a goal in the morning and not feeling satisfied about their day until that goal is reached. There are always variables that can change the day such as breakdowns, weather and crew shortages. Yet on those days when all does eventually go well and they reach their goal, they continue with the work day because that is just how they measured their day.

Spring to me is a season of promise. I get excited for the upcoming warm weather, planning of summer pro-jects and all the outdoor activities that come along with the warmer weather. The same holds true for every-one in the woods industry. It is great to see companies getting their equipment maintained, starting back at new jobsites, sawmills replenishing the log supply and truckers getting back to hauling wood. Most companies take a little time off for breakup as this helps dry up the wood supply and may even recharge some employ-ees’ spirits.

This is also a great time to take the opportunity to fix guards on machinery steps, handholds, or replace cracked windows on equipment. For some employees, this could be a perfect time to brush up on that addi-tional training or get those new employees trained as well. Remember to check out the first aid kit. “First aid what?” Yes, it’s time to look forward and move in that direction. Time to change how one works or their atti-tude toward it. How about this for a change? Let’s not just be thinking about ourselves and what I do for me, but what can I do to promote my industry and fellow businesses.

I believe everyone at the 43rd Annual Convention had a great time. It is always good to see MATSIF mem-bers there so they can be presented safety awards for working in an industry that is hazardous. It’s amazing how many years that companies can go without an incident due to them adapting a safety culture that keeps them safe, working and profitable. The Special Merit Award is truly an honor to give to our members as they not only have a great safety program but are highly respected companies in the industry. MATSIF does not randomly select a company for this award, but they seek the ones that truly demonstrate leadership and ethi-cal business practices, care for their employees and their families along with the environment.

Road restrictions are off; time to go to work, let’s have a safe and productive season.

Richard Stringer presenting a 10 Year Safety Award to Jim Payne, Bill Axford and Shawn Hintz of Timberline Logging. Pictured is owner John Gusler of Fairview Woodyard displaying his Special Merit Award.

Page 6 Safety Log

Annual Convention 2017 from my Perspective By: Rich Newill

The convention was a remarkable success this year. There were many people in attendance and a large number of legislators came to mingle with us. We had several of our safety award winners come to accept their congratulations and their plaques. Dr. Surrell did his presentation on the dangers of sugar, a subject affecting virtually every American, thin or otherwise. As an otherwise, I find his informative discussion to hit very close to home. Once you hear the details and effects of sugar in our diets, it becomes clear that the obesity, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure… practically all of our lifestyle-induced disease is based on over-use of sugar. This is profound as we overlook what is right in front of our faces asking what can be the underlying cause of the increases in these diseases. He makes us aware that if you read the labels on your foods (primarily the processed products but also including fruits, juices, soda, and many others) you will find that sugar is included as an additive or as a natural component of nearly everything we ingest. Often sugar is labeled as something less obvious than what it really is like corn syrup, or “natural sweetener”. Words like natural can be deceiving in that the definition is loose, and yes, the sugars in fresh fruits are naturally occurring, but they are still sugar. I was disappointed to learn that honey is a sugar and should be avoided or used in moderation. Dr. Surrell endorses the use of sweeteners such as saccharin or stevia. He convincingly claims that there is no real evidence that these products are harmful, and they are far safer to us than any form of sugar. Pretty amazing revelations, and a challenge to avoid taking in sugar based on the primary foods available to us at restaurants or our grocery stores. I was blessed to have my daughter Andrea and her three children Anna, Ricky, and Luke join me at the convention again this year. I had more fun with them than I can describe, and they ap-parently had the same. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing so many of my personal friends since my life has revolved around the wood industry for 30 years. Almost every friend or acquaintance in my life is from this pool of people or related industries. That certainly works for me, as there are no better to know and be friends with. MATSIF had an election at the convention. Three of the five Trustee positions on the MATSIF board were up for the vote. These all ran uncontested, so the vote did not have to be taken for-mally and the three were re-elected. I was very pleased, as our Trustees are all wise and de-voted MATSIF members as well as active participants in operating the Fund. That is what really makes the Fund work. Leadership is drawn from within the Fund’s members, and the driving force in cost control with excellence. The Trustees bring their business wisdom and talents to the table, enabling MATSIF to continue to be the best Worker’s Compensation Self-Insurers’ Fund in the state (probably the world in my opinion). I give sincere thanks to them as well as our staff for the ethical and appropriate effort all contribute. I hope to see the economy and the wood industry grow and sustain itself as has been the case in recent months. We have much to be thankful to our Lord for, and we carry out His work in the honorable endeavors of our lives in this profession. I personally thank and congratulate all of our participants, and hope to watch you prosper over the coming years.

Volume 17 , Issue 1 Page 3

2017 ANNUAL CONVENTION By: Brian LeBoeuf

I very much enjoyed my first convention as a MATSIF Loss Control Representative. I have attended the convention in the past but not from my current view point. First, I was impressed with the facili-ties at Boyne Mountain. Having our room, the convention center and the receptions in close prox-imity made it enjoyable. The rooms are very nice and the staff was friendly and courteous. The event kicked off on Thursday evening with the MATSIF reception and awards ceremony. This was a great time to network with members and share stories. The food was great, which is my favor-ite part of any event. The presentation was informative and entertaining. Dr. Surrell has a way of dis-cusing important health concerns while keeping the mood light and entertaining. Special congratula-tions to all of our safety award winners. A few were able to make our event and received their awards in person. We appreciate all the efforts of our members to operate safely. The events on Friday were great. The classes were well attended and the exhibitor’s area was busy all day. This was also another great opportunity to network with other people in the forest products industry as well as the suppliers that provide the equipment and parts to the industry. Friday was finished off with the Michigan Association of Timbermen’s award ceremony, silent auction, raffle drawings and live auction. Overall the convention was a great event, it was infor-mative and entertaining. If you were not able to attend the convention this year, I encourage you to join us next year and see the event for yourself.

MATSIF OFFERS MANUAL AND MECHANICAL LOGGING TRAINING QUALIFYING

FOR SFI CREDITS

Some time ago, MATSIF developed course curriculum that was submitted and approved al-lowing us to offer training for manual and mechanical logging operations that qualifies for four (4) hours of SFI credit. The program provides individualized instruction to member com-pany employees in the safe and efficient use of chain saw and mechanical logging equip-ment. Trained operators can safely and more efficiently produce product with a minimum of waste and damage to quality logs and residual timber stands. Additionally, the goal is to have participants increase their awareness of applicable state and federal regulations. In addition to the SFI training, our staff is also available to offer refresher courses if neces-sary as well as to help train any new sawyers. An additional benefit is that you have to do no traveling; our staff will come to you. If you’d like more information on these services, please contact your Loss Control Representative or the MATSIF office.

Chairman Jim Carey addresses the audience on Thursday evening at the Annual Convention.

Page 4 Safety Log

MATSIF OFFERS INFORMATIVE SEMINAR AT ANNUAL CONVENTION By: Barb Bennett

As others have mentioned, this year’s convention was well attended and was very relaxing as well as informative. There were a number of great seminars offered qualifying for SFI credit. MATSIF’s seminar this year focused on workers’ compensation insurance and provided some excel-lent information on handling claims from the moment they occur right on through the conclusion of the claim. We had a well rounded panel of participants including: Attorney Brian Goodenough from Foster, Swift, Attorney Bob Orlowski from Lacey & Jones, Jack Shellhammer, nurse case manager from Re-viewWorks, and Dick Wos, Paul Martin, Larry Wheeler, and Kirby Lau from Comprehensive Risk Services. These folks did a wonderful job of fielding questions from the audience on handling fraudulent claims, light duty work options, claims involving the aging process, and many other topics. Overall, it was a great session. Thanks to all who participated.

Elected to the MATSIF Board of Trustees at this year’s annual convention were:

Kurt Bisballe, Bisballe Forest Products, Inc.,

Lake City, MI

William Brand, Northland Harvesting, Inc.,

Newberry, MI

James Carey, J. Carey Logging, Inc.,

Channing, MI

They were elected to serve a two-year term and join fellow Trustees Luke Brogger of Quality Hardwoods, Inc., Sunfield and Al-mor Penegor of J & A Penegor, Inc., Toivola.

2017 MATSIF

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

WELCOME MATSIF

NEW MEMBERS

Whitens Kiln & Lumber Co., Inc.,

Hermansville

AR Timber, LLC.,

Barton City

D.T. Fowler Manufacturing Co., Inc., Lapeer

Dean’s Timber, LLC.,

Lachine

Sunset Coast Homes, LLC.,

Berrien Springs

Quality Cut Wood Specialties, Inc.,

Harbor Springs

Paris North Hardwood Lumber Co., Inc.

dba Silver Leaf Sawmill.,

Elmira

Keweenaw Logging, L.L.C.,

Ironwood

Volume 17, Issue 1 Page 5

As a result of the review processes, the following savings have been realized on medical bills for MATSIF member claims through the first quarter of the calendar year:

Total Review Work Net % of Return on Charges Reduction Cost Savings Savings Investment $502,273 $295,402 $ 9,710 $285,692 57% 30.42/1.00 1st Quarter

$502,273 $295,402 $ 9,710 $285,692 57% 30.42/1.00 Total

HEALTH CARE SAVINGS

NEAR MISS COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL — FORKLIFT By: Richard Stringer

This near accident happened just last week at a Michigan sawmill. One of the managers was doing something in the loading area of the sawmill while the normal production was ongoing. He was standing in the truck entrance door on the west side of the building as the large forklift was entering. The manager saw the forklift coming and assumed the driver would stop when he saw him. Problem is that the driver cannot easily see just inside of a somewhat darkened doorway when he is coming in from a brighter area outside of the mill. There is always a shadow, or darker area just inside the doorway. In this case, the manager quickly did get out of the way just in time. As it worked out the driver didn’t see the manager until he was alongside the lift truck. He could have run into him and not known until it was too late. Both men got a scare out of this real incident. They were scared enough to treat this as a serious incident. In this case the person in the doorway clearly saw the forklift coming, unlike some other claims we have seen when the injured person did not see the forklift. Remember, the pedestrian always has the right-of-way, but that fact does no good when the lift operator cannot, or does not see the pedes-trian; which was the situation in this case. So what is the solution? At first thought we might say better lighting would have prevented this. Better lighting would improve the visibility most of the time. Actually this building is quite well lighted inside. The one suggestion that all agreed on was to have all people in the work area wear safety, hi-viz clothing with florescent stripes. These really standout when coming into a darkened building or in area where there is lim-ited lighting. Any bit of light is caught by the florescence and shows brightly. Most constructions sites and many other workplaces enforce the use of hi-viz clothing. We, at MATSIF have been en-couraging this for a long time on logging jobs. We need to get the sawmills and other operations on board with this practice because it really can prevent injuries. Forklift operators have a lot of things to think about while doing their job. They are always moving material and they know where the rest of the workers are supposed to be, most of the time. Most operators know when they are in foot traffic areas but it is the occasional, out of the ordinary, situa-tion when someone is in their travel area when accidents are more likely to happen. Communica-tions between pedestrian and driver in these situations are critical to everyone’s safety. No one can assume that the lift operator knows where they are or where they are going. The story told here is real. We cannot, in good conscious, let this lesson go untold and wait until a serious injury or fatality happens.