WSCA Participatory Action Research Project: Phase II

April 15, 2014

Project Update

Crisis in the Woods

The View from the Front Lines

Reducing MSIs - Where are the Leverage Points? (from the 2012-13 study)

1. Customer /Supplier Practices: Forester, Nursery

2. Industry Practices(piece-rate pay system,

incentives, contract requirements-- soft touch

planting vs. screefing)

3. Company Culture: Safety, Production, both/and?

4. Safety management system5. Crew management practices

6. Education (coaching, mentoring, training)

7. Individual strategies

Factor 1: Customer-Supplier Practices

Representative interview quotes:

•The trees do not need to weigh as much; they should weigh 25 pounds. Should be kept in a more humid atmosphere; squeeze water it. Should regulate; nurseries need to respond.

•Rocky blocks have been logged; small trees far apart. My day will be spent banging my shovel against rocks; everyone will be sore mid-way through. Did that have to be logged?

•When we use fertilizer, my eyes itch and I have trouble breathing. Fertilizer should not be used by planters. The forester decides; it’s in the contract. Don’t know what leads to the decision.

Second Curve Systems

Factor 2: Industry Practices

Representative quotes:

•The root of the problem is production-based planting. There’s a huge number of people with repetitive injuries; maybe ½ are written down. Repetitive strain injuries are driven by how the industry works.

•There’s a higher risk when you’re straining to go fast when the land and body mitigate against it. For instance, opening and closing a hole in clay ground is much harder. There are limits to land: “fast” and “slow” land. It’s had to have a really good day in a place that’s harder.

•On shovel-arm tendinitis: if it’s both, it’s systemic (fatigue, dehydration). 4-5 years ago: summer contract, short duration, must stay to the end. These injuries go away after a short-term contract.

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Factor 6: Coaching & Mentoring

Representative quotes:

•Our camp had 60% rookies. They had problems breaking the 1000 tree barrier, 2000 tree barrier. Foreman challenges: how to get rookies paired up? How to teach people differently? My guys are finally starting to hit numbers; it’s good to see the progression.

•A good supervisor will observe, “Just noticed you do this. Wonder if you’ve tried this? Watch what this person’s doing.” No slamming.

•We’re Teaching Movement: -Step 1 is matching, learn through osmosis: “Watch me; then you plant, I observe.”-Step 2 is doing a bag-up together. We plant together; get a pace going.-Step 3 is getting a dialogue going: “This side, no grass, easy to plant. High on this ground; good

growth in spring.” Ask, “Can I show you a couple of things?” or “Would you like feedback?” and show proper shovel movement. Or, “I just noticed you do this; wonder if you’ve tried this?” Or, “Watch what this person is doing. See? No slamming.” Teach how to see, “You need to fix it; did you see what I saw?”

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WIT team/ Working Circle Sequence

1. Identify issue, lead(s), and SMEs2. Pre-work:•Gather stories of the problem: what typically happens (identify and agree on unintended consequences)•Gather stories of solutions: when it works better or best (identify and agree on intended consequences)4. Convene WIT team/ Working Circle: Licensees and Contractors, 6-8 people, diverse perspectives, trusted SMEs on the issue5. Facilitate 3 working sessions, using PAR tools. Include site observations/ field trip where possible.6. Generate options for action experiments. Prioritize and select action experiments, including metrics, timing, visibility, and followup 7. Conduct experiments and evaluate, using PAR tools

Second Curve Systems

PAR Swim Lanes: 2013 Planting Season

Focus WSCA - February: Create & Build Momentum

March- June: Small Tests of Change & Transfer Momentum

July- October:Debrief, Disseminate, & Maintain Momentum

Strategic: Early WinsLeads: Timo, John

Identify Smart Industry Practices

•CHAG Presentation (Coast)•Experiments: Deactivated Roads, Access to Site Information (e.g. on heli blocks), Resource Road Driver Training, ERP best practices•Review and prioritize other hazards, e.g. fertilizer concerns

•Debrief/ review lessons learned for broader application

•Demonstrate early ROI for smart industry practices

• Reuse with TAG?

Operational 1: Processes and ProceduresLead: Sylvia

Identify Customer/ supplier practices

•Form WIT Team for heavy seedlings, heavy boxes/ large stock sizes, long runs (Interior)•Identify potential early wins

Begin testing benefits for next season:•Foresters: smart contract requirements for 2015?•Nurseries: smart watering of trees (or other strategies)?•ROI and shared gain assessment•Reuse with CHAG?

Operational 2: Processes and ProceduresLead: Scott OvertonAssist: Trenna Robertson

Identify Customer/ supplier practices

•Form WIT Team for Access to Quad Roads (Interior)

•Review results to date, widen visibility, develop next cycle tests for 2015 planting season

• Implement smart compensation strategy for 2015?

•Reuse with CHAG?18