PLC Supporting Member Weekly Update Feb. 10, 2023

PLC Legislative Breakfast March 2

RSVP NOW!

RSVP now for the return of the PLC’s annual Legislative Breakfast, being held this year on the morning of March 2 at the Governor Hill Mansion in Augusta! This will the first time the event has been held since 2020 and you don’t want to miss this chance to meet your state Senators and Representatives, includng many new legislators who are unfamiliar with logging and the issues the industry faces. We want a great crowd for this event. See you at the breakfast!

RSVP HERE

Save the Date and Reserve Rooms Now!

PLC Annual Meeting May 4-5 2023

It is time to start thinking about the 2023 PLC Annual Meeting and Log A Load Auction! The meeting will be held May 4-5 2023 at the Harborside Hotel in Bar Harbor. Rooms are already available to book so why not reserve a room now?

Click here to book a room or use: https://www.opalcollection.com/harborside/stay/

Group Code: MEPL050423

Steps to reserve a room at the Harborside Hotel:

1. Click on Link (can also type in the group code)
2. At the top of the web site modify the dates of your stay – 1 or 2 nights
3. You will not be charged until the event and the resort fee will be waived

 Questions? Email office@maineloggers.com

ALC Annual Meeting 2023 in Maine!

Reserve Rooms Now!

Save the Date for the 2023 American Loggers Council Conference and Membership Meeting at the Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine October 3-6!

American Loggers Council President and long-time PLC Board Member Andy Irish and his wife Kathy look forward to hosting timber industry representatives for the peak “Leaf Peeping” season. More details will be coming soon!

For guests who would like to reserve a room online CLICK HERE

For guests who would like to call to book their reservation lease call 800-207-2365 and refer to Group Code 86B5IN

PLC Online Store

Reminder on Electronic Submission of OSHA Form 300A Data

OSHA is reminding employers to submit their 2022 OSHA Form 300A (Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses) data by March 2, 2023.

Who is required to submit Form 300A data?

• Establishments with 250 or more employees that are required to keep OSHA injury and illness records.
• Establishments with 20 to 249 employees in designated industries.
• Establishments under Federal OSHA jurisdiction can use the ITA Coverage Application to determine if they are required to electronically report their injury and illness information to OSHA. Establishments under State Plan jurisdiction should contact their State Plan. 

How to submit Form 300A data:

As part of the Department of Labor’s IT modernization and security enhancement efforts, the Injury Tracking Application transitioned its login procedure to Login.gov — a secure sign-in service used by many government agencies. Current and new account holders need to create a Login.govaccount to submit their 2022 injury and illness data. Detailed guidance on how to carry out this change is available as a job aid and video.

If you have questions, visit the FAQs webpage. If the FAQs don’t address your questions, complete the Help Request Form located on the page. Thank you for your cooperation. 

Office of Statistical Analysis 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration 
U.S. Department of Labor

NEW Featured HumpDay Safety Video – Feedback

NEW Featured Unsafe Zone Video – Dan Qualey: Battery Explosion

CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogens certification: Did you know your employees are required to have this training every two years? If your employees need this training in 2023, contact Jessica at Jessica@maineloggers.com or 207-688-8195 and the PLC will schedule training in your area. THIS TRAINING IS FREE TO MEMBERS!

Now FREE to Maine Loggers! A $300 value!

LEARN MORE

MaineDOT announces three-year work plan

Motor carriers and drivers using ONE PLUS ELDs (n/k/a 1 PL Logs) have 60 days to replace the revoked devices with compliant ELDs.

On February 8, 2023, FMCSA removed the following device from the list of registered ELDs due to the company’s failure to meet the minimum requirements established in 49 CFR part 395, subpart B, appendix A.

ELD Name: ONE PLUS ELD (n/k/a 1 PL Logs)
ELD Model number: ORS
ELD Identifier: ORS160
ELD Provider: ONE PLUS ELD (n/k/a 1 PL LOGS)
ELD Registration ID: 8J3V

FMCSA Pre-employment Requirement Goes Into Effect January 6, 2023

On November 4, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse published information titled “Pre-employment Investigations for Drug and Alcohol Program Violations.”  The Clearinghouse notice (re-posted below) is a reminder to certain employers regarding a change requirement that will go into effect January 6, 2023. Learn more

Licensed Foresters – February 7, 2023

Erosion Control Training and Certification Updates Maine DEP Nonpoint Source Training Center

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is making 10 hours of new online video trainings in various topics available for both certification credits and simply for interest. Anyone can view the videos for free, although a fee would apply for applying certification credit. CEOs can obtain credits and view any of these online training videos for free https://www.maine.gov/dep/training/npstrc-schedule.html (online trainings are at the bottom of the page).

Dear Employer,

      Labor laws and safety requirements can seem complex – join the Maine Department of Labor for no-cost upcoming safety trainings and Wage and Hour Compliance classes!

Upcoming classes:

• Mine Safety and Health Administration – Refresher: February 14, 2023 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
• The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requires all surface mining (ex. Stone crushing, gravel pit, etc.) employees to receive an eight-hour annual training. This one-day course will cover generic MSHA training. However, site-specific training will also need to be conducted once you return to your respective job sites.

• Wage & Hour Compliance Assistance: February 15, 2023 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Northern Maine Community College, 33 Edgemont Drive Presque Isle, in the Keegan Room
• This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. It will cover wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, rest breaks, and paid or unpaid leave requirements. It will also address commonly asked labor-related questions.

• Respiratory Protection: February 23, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
• Where workers are required to wear respirators to do their jobs, employers need a respiratory protection program. This course helps you determine your respiratory protection needs and covers all the elements of a written respiratory protection program. 

• Improving Your Safety Training Program: February 28, 2023 from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta  
• An effective safety training program will lead to positive effects on safety knowledge and the adoption of safe work practices and behaviors. This one-day training assists safety professionals and safety committees learn how to analyze their audience, update on new training techniques, and develop top notch training programs.

Register and browse more classes here: https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/training/scheduled_classes/register.shtml

Thermal Energy Investment Program Now Live

The Thermal Energy Investment Program (TEIP) provides financial incentives to businesses, municipalities, educational institutions, and nonprofit entities located in the state of Maine for the installation of new thermal energy derived projects. A thermal energy derived project is defined as;  a project that produces thermal energy and thermal renewable energy credits including but not limited to, (1) conversion of fossil fuel-fired boilers to wood-fueled boilers or boilers using biofuels derived from wood, and (2)  installation of new wood-fueled boilers or boilers using biofuels derived from wood. TEIP requires program participants to substantially share in the cost of projects. To learn more and for documents including teh pre-approval application CLICK HERE.

February 2023 Newsletter

       UMF professor Dr. Andrew Barton and team of forest scientists receive $597,000 NASA grant to study drought resilience in western forests

TRUCKING DISCOUNTS THROUGH THE ALC!

PLC Members, because the PLC is a member of the American Loggers Council YOU are entitled to special discounts on truck purchases! Click on the brand names below to learn more!

PETERBILT

WESTERN STAR

INTERNATIONAL

—

Fabian Oil Discount

Traction Heavy Duty Special

Wallingford’s Discounts

Maine Trailer Discounts

PLC Members get a 5% discount on culverts purchased at Treeline and Frank Martin & Sons

Hale Trailer discounts for PLC Members on new trailer purchases! Call Neal at 207-232-7969 for details!

Cross Arena Discounts for PLC! 

PLC Classified Section

Check out the equipment and job opportunities our members have listed at the LOGGING ZONE! If you have equipment for sale, are looking to buy, are looking for employees, or