WA FACE Report: Timber Harvester Operator Killed Following a Chain Shot Incident

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEFINITIONS
INTRODUCTION
EMPLOYER
EMPLOYER SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAM
TIMBER HARVESTER OPERATOR
CHAIN SHOT
HARVESTER
CUTTING CHAIN
INVESTIGATION
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
CAUSE OF DEATH
RECOMMENDATIONS AND DISCUSSION
POST INCIDENT REMEDIATION
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
REFERENCES
INVESTIGATOR INFORMATION
FACE PROGRAM INFORMATION

DEFINITIONS:

APP	Accident Prevention Program
DNR	Department of Natural Resources
DOSH	Division of Occupational Safety and Health
ELZ	Equipment Limitation Zone EMS Emergency Medical Services
FACE	Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation
FRI	Forestry Research Institute
HR	Human Resources
mm	Millimeters
NIOSH	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
OPS	Operator Protection Structure
PDS	Product Data Sheet
RPM	Revolutions per Minute
SHARP	Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention
SMP	Svenska Mankinproving AB
SOPs	Standard Operating Procedures
WA	Washington State
WISHA	Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act

INTRODUCTION

On August 12, 2010, the Washington State Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program was notified by the Washington State Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) of the death of a 47-year-old timber harvester operator.

After reviewing the DOSH investigation report, Washington State FACE investigators interviewed the owner and human resources (HR) manager of the logging company. During the interview, the owner and HR manager provided information regarding the history, organization, and health and safety programs of the company, as well as insight into circumstances surrounding the incident. During the course of the investigation documents reviewed included police report, coroner’s report, and DOSH investigation documents and photographs.

Employer

The employer has been in the logging business since the 1960s, and primarily cuts Douglas-fir, hemlock, and alder trees in Washington and Oregon. The employer started mechanized logging in the early 1990s. According to Washington State Department of Labor and Industries risk classification system, mechanized logging is defined as the entire process of felling, removal, yarding, processing, delimbing, bucking and loading of tree/logs by machine.[2] The employer primarily does contract logging for companies that own large pieces of land intended for harvesting timber, such as tree farms. The employer contracts hand cutting and truck hauling duties.

At the time of the incident, the employer employed 110 fulltime employees, 5 of these employees had the same job duties and title as the operator.

Employer Safety and Training Program

The employer has monthly safety meetings, an annual safety meeting, and brief jobsite specific safety meetings daily. According to the DOSH inspection the employer has an appropriate Accident Prevention Plan (APP).

All new employees are required to participate in a New Hire Orientation training that lasts for about 2 hours. This training is conducted by the HR Manager with each individual employee. At the time of the incident, topics included in the New Hire Orientation training included:

• Employer and employee responsibilities
• Safety and health training program
• General company policies and disciplinary policies
• Substance abuse policies
• Lockout/Tagout
• Hazardous materials protocols
• Working near power lines
• State laws relevant to their company in Washington and Oregon

The employer also has job-specific trainings. These job specific trainings cover topics relevant to the job the person would be completing, such as procedures for truck drivers and machinery operators working on a landing.

Machinery operators are required to show their ability to operate the machinery by reviewing training guides with a more experienced operator. The trainee must be able to show the more experienced operator that he or she understands how to safely operate the machine. According to the HR Manager, the training guides are reviewed on site (Appendix B). These forms are reviewed when employees are first hired and then annually after that. After reviewing the training guides, the new operator is observed by a more experienced operator employed by the logging company to ensure that they can operate the machine properly.

Timber Harvester Operator (Victim)

The operator had been working with this type of harvester as an operator since 1993 and had been a full-time employee since November 2008. According to the employer, the operator was considered experienced with the Timberjack harvester, and provided training on how to operate the machine safely. When the operator was hired, the employer said that his training consisted of being observed for 1–2 days by another operator to ensure he followed the protocols used by the employer.

Prior to working for the logging company, the employee worked for similar companies doing the same work. He had received training from the harvester manufacturer on how to safely operate the harvester he was using at the time of the incident. The employer stated, that prior to working for the company, he and the operator had been at the same trainings and had informal discussions about the operation of harvesting equipment. The employer said that in these informal discussions that operator taught him more efficient ways to operate the harvesters. The employer also stated that the operator was very meticulous. For example, he maintained a log of the work he did, problems that arose while working, and the solutions he used to fix these problems.

The operator’s job duties included selecting the trees that needed to be cut, and operating and maintaining the harvester while in the field.

Chain Shot

Chain shot is the high velocity separation and ejection of a piece or pieces of cutting chain from the end of a broken chain.[1]. Chain shot occurs after the initial break and is often caused when the chain strikes something, such as the saw box, causing pieces from the chain to break loose. While chain shot can travel in any direction, the pieces of ejected chain usually travel along the plane of the saw bar. However chain shot can also spread out from the plane of the saw bar in a cone-like pattern. This is sometimes referred to the chain shot “cone zone” and starts at each end of the saw bar and increases in circular area away from the saw where chain shot is most likely to travel.

Sequence of events	Diagrammatic representation
After a chain break...
The free end of the chain begins to whip away from the break.
If the chain is not contained by the saw box or an energy-absorbing guard, the broken chain's free end can speed up rapidly and carry immense dynamic energy.
At the peak of the whip. chain parts may break loose and be ejected at high speed, especially if the free end of the chain strikes the saw box. Chain shot can cause chain parts to be thrown in many directions, especially along the plane of the saw bar.	Fragements have been measured at between 180 and 310 m/s under laboratory conditions.

Figure 1: Diagram of chain shot from Oregon's The mechanical Harvesting Handbook.
https://hyb-rel-p2-webstore-ext.prod.blount-aws.com/ medias/575957-aa-harvesterhandbook/

Harvester

The machine involved in the incident was a 1996 Timberjack 1270B single grip harvester matched with a Timberjack 762C harvester cutting head (see photo 1). The harvester is designed to fell, limb, and cross-cut trees. The machine was purchased used, came with all service manuals, and the employer reviewed all maintenance records.

At the time of the incident the company was operating five harvesting machines. These five machines had a combined total of approximately 1 million hours of harvesting. This was the first ever chain shot penetration of an operator cab window of a company owned harvester.

The cab window to the Timberjack harvester was made of 12mm polycarbonate made by Lexan (see photo 2). The harvester cab window model was a Lexan Margard MR5E. According to the Product Data Sheet (PDS) the Lexan Margard MR5E has 250 times the impact strength of glass and 30 times that of acrylic.

The Lexan cab window is considered to be the protective equipment against chain shot by both the manufacturers of harvesters and those conducting mechanized logging. The employer had a similar harvester with 12mm polycarbonate windows experience an incident of chain shot in which the chain did not penetrate the cab window. This confirmed the employer’s belief that that the 12mm Lexan cab window was sufficient protection for the operator.

The 762C cutting head can be used for late thinning, final felling of trees, and as a processor (see photo 3 and figure 2). The operator’s manual for the cutting head had no mention of chain shot or how to prevent it. The Oregon Mechanical Timber Harvesting Handbook does warn to never allow anyone to stand in front of a rotating chain, or allow anyone within a risk zone of at least 70 meters/230 feet. It states, “Watch especially the area in line with the saw bar!”

Figure 2: Timperjack 762C cutting head diagram from operator's manual

The cutting head was equipped with a chain catcher and chain shot arrestor on the heel of the bar drive to serve as a guard in case the chain breaks, but there were no guards on the tip end of the saw to prevent chain shot. The saw box that holds the saw was equipped with snow holes to prevent snow from building up in the saw area.

The saw on the cutting head consisted of an Oregon roller tip 18H saw bar with an 80 gage Carlton chain with a pitch of .404* (see photo 4). According to the employer, the saw moved at up to 8,000 revolutions per minute (RPMs) and was equipped with an auto tensioner. The auto chain tensioner would re-tension the chain after each cut.

According to the employer, there is conflicting information from manufacturers of harvesters and manufacturers of the saw chains on what is the recommended chain speed. The DOSH inspector determined that the chain speed at the time of the incident was within the manufacturer’s recommendations. According to both the employer and the DOSH inspector, the employer properly maintained the cutting head.

Cutting Chain

The chain on the Oregon 18H roller tip bar was an 80 gage Carlton chain with a pitch of .404. The chain sections involved in the fatal chain shot were a driver link and 2 strap links (see photos 6 and 7). A drive link is the portion of the chain that fits into the saw’s guide bar; the strap link connects the cutter links to the drive links.

According to the HR manager, the total weight of the two straps and driver link that struck the operator was 102.6 grains (approximately 6.65 grams). According to the chain manufacturer’s specifications, the fatal links could have been traveling at speeds up to 310 m/sec (approximately 694 miles/hour) when they struck the 12mm polycarbonate cab window.

INVESTIGATION

At approximately 9:30 am on August 12, 2010, a crew of two workers, including a forwarder operator and a timber harvester operator, were working to thin an area of trees. The harvester operator, operating a Timberjack 1270B single grip harvester paired with the Timberjack 762C cutting head, was thinning trees up against a non-fish seasonal stream. The forwarder operator was removing the thinned trees to the road to be hauled off. According to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), a non-fish seasonal stream is a stream that does not have surface flow during at least some portion of the year and does not meet the physical criteria of a fish stream.[3] Working near the non-fish seasonal stream limited the space that the timber harvester operator had to work in as some of the trees that needed to be removed would have been located in an equipment limitation zone (ELZ). According to the WA State DNR, an ELZ is a 30 foot wide zone, measured horizontally from the outer edge of the bankfull width or channel migration zone. Machinery can operate within this zone as long as the width does not result in sediment delivery to the stream.[4] This would limit the amount of room that the timber harvester operator had to work so that the forwarder operator could remain outside of the ELZ.

Approximately 10 minutes before the incident, the harvester operator contacted the forwarder operator to let him know that he was going to change the chain on the harvester cutting head. After changing the chain the harvester operator continued to thin trees. The last tree the operator cut down was a 6-inch fir tree that was located in front of the harvester.

When the harvester operator was cutting the tree he may have pulled the tree prematurely, as evidence by a 1 inch flap still left on the stump. After cutting the fir tree off the stump, the operator attempted to process the tree with the harvester’s cutting head.

It is believed by the employer, that the operator moved the tree to the left side of the cab to ensure that the forwarder would be able to remove the tree without entering the ELZ. This put the tree and the cutting head approximately 10 feet away from the cab of the harvester. With the cutting head in this position the operator was directly in line with the saw.

The cutting head pulled 20 feet of the tree through the feed rollers to cut the tree into the pre-determined length. When the operator hit the saw button to cut the tree, the saw chain rotated and broke. What exactly caused the new chain to break is unknown. Even new chains can be defective.

When the chain broke, a portion of the chain hit the snow hole at the front of the saw. The chain shot occurred before the saw left it’s housing to cut the log, as evidenced by the lack of saw marks on the tree it was processing. It is believed by the employer and the DOSH inspector, that this caused the chain shot of the three links in the direction of the cab. Two of the three chain links hit the Lexan 12 mm window and did not penetrate. The third chain link, consisting of two straps and one driver, penetrated through the left side cab window at approximately a 30 degree angle and hit the operator, cutting his left carotid artery before being embedded in his right shoulder.

The operator made a call on his CB radio to the forwarder operator to call 911 and shutdown the harvester. The forwarder operator arrived on the scene in a couple of minutes, contacted emergency responders, and attempted first aid on the harvester operator. Emergency responder responded on scene in approximately 30–40 minutes. The operator was pronounced dead on the scene.

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

• Ability for piece of chain to penetrate Lexan cab window.
• Cutting head in line with the harvester operator’s cab.
• Working in areas with administrative and terrain constrictions (ELZ and non-fish seasonal stream).

CAUSE OF DEATH

The medical examiner listed the cause of death as acute hemorrhage, exsanguination due to penetrating projectile wound to neck.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND DISCUSSION

Recommendation 1:

Employers should create maintenance and guarding systems that reduce the chance of chain shot and to protect workers.

Discussion:

Extensive research by the Forestry Research Institute (FRI) in Sweden found that worn or damaged chains are more likely to break and have an incident of chain shot than chains that are in good condition.[5] Employers should create a system of maintenance that reduces the likelihood of chain breakage. The FRI in Sweden recommends that:

• Chains be inspected for damage, particularly on drive links, before sharpening.
• Chains be replaced at appropriate times.
• Chains be inspected by operators at time of installation.
• Chains be randomly inspected after being sharpened and prior to being installed.
• Operators and workers responsible for chain maintenance effectively communicate.

Post-Incident Remediation

Since the incident the employer has created both engineering and administrative controls to protect workers from the dangers of chain shot.

Engineering Controls

The employer has created and attached a tip guard for the cutting saw. The tip guard is intended to direct chain shot or other propellant from the tip of the cutting saw to the ground. The employer also covered the snow holes on the cutting head. Covering the snow holes prevents chain shot from flying out one of the holes. According to the employer, the snow holes are not necessary for the environment that the company works in.

The employer did retrofit some of their processor cabs with thicker, more protective, Lexan windows. This was not done for their harvester cabs for two main reasons. First, the harvester front cab window is curved. Thicker aftermarket replacement versions of the curved front window specific to this model harvester are not available. Second, the manufacturer did not support the change. According to the employer, the manufacturer does not approve of upgrading the cab windows due to concerns about the effects on the cab’s operator protection structure (OPS).

Administrative / Management Controls

The employer believes that the best way of preventing similar chain shot incidents is to eliminate chain breakage. In order to accomplish this goal the employer developed a comprehensive program for maintaining chains and trains all equipment operators and chain maintenance personnel on the procedures.

The initial phase of the employer’s plan included replacing all chains, inspecting all machinery, replacing worn parts, and checking all cutting speeds and bar feed force to ensure that they match the manufacturer’s recommendations.

After the initial phase the employer developed a comprehensive plan for chain maintenance and trained equipment operators and chain maintenance personnel on it. The plan focuses on inspection, maintenance, and tracking of chains and cutting equipment.

Machinery operators and maintenance personnel now have designated areas to pick-up and drop-off the chains. The chains that are used for processors are put in orange bins with a designated machine number (see photo 10). These orange bins have motor oil in them to pre-lube chains as well as keep the chains clean and help prevent weathering. The employer initially used bar oil, but found that the employees didn’t like the “stickiness” of the bar oil and were less likely to follow this procedure. The employer spoke with a chain manufacturer to see if motor oil would be an acceptable replacement. The manufacturer said that motor oil would work just as well as the bar oil for the pre-lube. Bar oil is still required to be used in the processor head during operation. Machinery operators pick-up the numbered orange bin, from underneath the maintenance table, which corresponds with the equipment they will be using in the field. Maintenance personal only put the chains in the bins after they have been cleaned, inspected and serviced.

While the machinery operator is on a job they are expected to:

• Store spare chains in motor oil for pre-lube and protection.
• Inspect and replace chains at the end of the shift or as needed after an upset condition. For example, if the chain gets bound while cutting a tree or if the chain becomes really dull.
• Flip and inspect bar once per shift. Clean oil holes and chain groove.
• Inspect sprocket, chain shot guard, chain catcher and lubrication system once per shift.
• Not reuse chains that have been changed.
• When returning from a job, put the used chains on the proper hook on the return chain rack.

When the machinery operator returns from a job the chains are put on the return rack (see photos 11 and 12). The maintenance personnel pick-up, clean, and inspect the chains, discarding worn or damaged chains. The chains that are still in operational condition will be serviced, sharpened, and stored in bins of motor oil before being used again.

Maintenance personnel have an area and tools specifically used for inspecting and maintaining chains. The maintenance staff cleans and inspects chains, checking for structural wear, cracks, and other damage that would make the chain more likely to break. If the chain is still in good condition, maintenance personnel services and sharpens and places the chain back into the appropriate orange bin.

To ensure that the chains go into the correct bin, the employer has two racks in the maintenance area that match the machinery operators’ return rack. One rack is located on the walls of the maintenance shop and is used to put the chains that have been returned by operators. The second rack is used to store chains that have gone through the service and maintenance procedures and will be used in the field (see photo 15). This rack has a lock on it to prevent machinery operators from taking the wrong chain into the field. After cleaning, inspecting, and maintenance of chains that can be reused in the field has been completed, the chains are put back into the orange bin or on the chain rack that has the corresponding number of the machine that will use those chains.

The employer also became more diligent about inspecting and changing out worn parts on a machine’s cutting system. Chain shot guards including the chain catcher and chain shot arrestor as well as sprockets need to be routinely inspected and replaced when worn or damaged (see photos 16 and 17). The employer trains equipment operators to inspect their equipment daily while out in the field. Machinery operators are trained to inspect specific parts and how to identify signs of wear or damage.

Since the initial interview the employer’s more frequent inspection program has detected a new problem. The problem exists with the heel of the cutter link on the .404 gauge chains. The employer has found that the heel of the cutting link is cracking and failing long before the service limit for stretch on the chain or the limit for wear on the cutting tooth is reached. To compensate for this new issue, the employer replaces the chain after it has been sharpened four or five times, and not when it has passed its stretch service life or the cutting link becomes too worn. The chain maintenance staff is responsible to ensure that chains are discarded at the appropriate time.

The employer estimates that due to the new chain maintenance procedures, they have seen a 50-80 percent reduction on chain breakage.

Recommendation 2:

Train all workers who might encounter chain shot on standard operating procedures (SOPs) used for the prevention of chain shot.

Employers should ensure that all workers and/or contractors that could be exposed to chain shot are properly trained on all chain shot prevention SOPs. Workers that may be exposed to chain shot include harvester operators, hand cutters, workers on landings, and truck drivers. The training should include:

• How to identify and prevent chain shot hazards.
• Demonstration of skills needed to perform chain shot prevention SOPs.
• Coaching or disciplinary action for workers failing to use employer’s SOPs.
• Documentation of any training, coaching, and or disciplinary action.
• Regular review and or supervision of workers performing SOPs.

Recommendation 3:

Harvester operators should whenever possible avoid processing trees when the processing saw bar is in line with the operator’s cab.

Discussion:

The harvester operator was working in an ELZ and attempted to make it easier for the forwarder operator to pick up the logs. To do this the harvester operator had the cutting head positioned on the left side of the harvester and directly in line with the cab. When the cutting head is in this position, there is a higher risk of chain shot impacting the cab. It is possible that if the cutting head was not in line with the cab, then chain shot may not have struck the harvester operator.

Machinery operators should position the cutting head in a direction that reduces the possibility of chain shot traveling towards the cab. This means they may have to maneuver the equipment into a different position in order to avoid damaging sensitive or restricted areas. If safe to do so, machinery operators could also utilize berms or other obstacles as a barrier from chain shot.

Safe operating practices should be used in addition to other preventive measures such as thicker polycarbonate cab windows and chain guards. A 2008 incident documented by WorkSafeBC, describes chain shot that penetrated 5/16” inch steel on the side of an operators cab. The chain shot came from a saw that was angled away from the cab and equipped with a chain catcher and guard. This demonstrates that chain shot is unpredictable and cannot be fully controlled by safe operator practices and emphasizes the need for multiple controls, especially thicker 1 ¼” polycarbonate windows.

Recommendation 4:

Workers should be aware of and in frequent communication with harvester operators regarding their proximity and alignment relative to timber harvesters and the location of safe zones.

Discussion:

All workers in the vicinity of timber harvesters or other logging machinery equipped with a guide bar and saw are at risk of being struck by chain shot. Chasers, hand cutters, and other workers on foot are particularly at high risk. Therefore, workers should always be aware of their distance from and alignment with a guide bar and saw and should use radios and hand signals to frequently communicate this information to operators. This allows operators to know if workers are in or close to high hazard zones so they can position and operate machinery more safely. Currently, the recommended chain shot risk zone distance is 70 meters/230 feet from a rotating chain. However, this should be considered the minimum and whenever possible, workers should be beyond this distance or in safe zones. Workers should also always wear high visibility clothing to help operators be aware of their location.

Recommendation 5:

Manufacturers of mechanized logging equipment should ensure that there are multiple safety systems to prevent chain shot penetration of the operator’s cab.

Discussion:

This has not been the only case of chain shot penetrating 12mm polycarbonate cab windows. Harvester operators in the United States, British Columbia, Sweden, and Australia have all reported incidents of chain shot penetrating harvester cab windows.

SMP Svenska Mankinproving AB, a forestry testing facility in Sweden, has carried out extensive research on chain shot, and found that three-ply 19mm polycarbonate and 19mm polycarbonate/acrylic laminate prevented chain shot from completely penetrating the material. SMP also found that 32mm polycarbonate laminate only allowed chain shot to penetrate to a maximum depth of 18mm. To ensure the safety of harvester operators, manufacturing harvesters with 32mm polycarbonate laminate would be most effective.[7]

Figure 3: Tables 2 and 3 from the SMP Svenska Mankinproving AB
Testing of Chain Shot showing that 19mm and 32mm prevented chain
shot from penetrating through the cab window.

Polycarbonate may not be the only option for harvester cab windows. Recent research conducted by the United States Army and the University of Dayton Research in Ohio found that a new type of transparent armor made from aluminum oxynitride and a polymer backing can prevent penetration of a .50-caliber bullet. According to the research, the material is about half the weight of current materials used, usually a polycarbonate and glass combination, in military vehicles. The aluminum material is also expected to retain its clarity for longer than current products used. The estimated cost of aluminum oxynitride, in 2005, was approximately $10 per square inch, but the price could come down with mass production.[6]

Due to the cost of newer machines many mechanized logging companies may not be able to afford newer equipment, so retrofitting older equipment with more protective cab windows could reduce the likelihood of an operator being struck by chain shot. Manufacturers of harvesting equipment should work with employers to determine the best method for retrofitting older equipment while maintaining the structural integrity of the harvester and any operator protection structures (OPS).

Manufacturers of cutting heads should develop and provide employers with the options to purchase guards to cover the tip end of the cutting saw. The employer stated that the guard that they have retrofitted has not interfered or negatively impacted their operations. The tip guard has also increased harvester operators’ awareness of the saw bar alignment. The HR manager said that many of the operators have stated they didn’t realized how often they were in the line of the cutting saw until the tip guard was put on and painted bright red (see photo 9). This visual reminder could help operators recognize that they are in line with the saw before they begin processing a log; this would give them a cue to change the angle in which they are processing logs.

Since mechanized logging equipment is used in many different environments, not all employers will need the same features, such as snow holes. Manufacturers of cutting heads should create various options or packages that allow users to tailor the cutting heads to meet the needs of the environment(s) they will be used in.

Timber harvesters are designed so that they are able to be operated in the high risk position where the saw bar is aligned with the operators cab. The Timberjack 1270B harvester in this incident had a rotating boom but a fixed cab that limited the options for positioning during processing. Harvesters with independently rotating cabs and booms provide operators with more options for safe positioning and operation. Manufacturers should further design harvesters to allow for more safe operating options and promote these features to users.

APPENDIX A

APPENDIX B: Example of Training Guidelines
(wording in red added after incident)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

This report was reviewed by stakeholders from labor and business communities and various Washington State and federal worker safety agencies. Though we are unable to acknowledge specific individuals for their contributions to this report, we would like to recognize the following for their help and support of the FACE mission and objectives:

• The Employer’s representatives involved in the incident
• Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH)
• Federal FACE Program Management (NIOSH)
• Safety & Health Assessment & Research for Prevention (SHARP)

REFERENCES:

1. Oregon. Chain Shot. 1/4/2012; Available from: www.oregonproducts.com/harvester/service/chain_shot.htm.
2. Washington State Department of Labor and Industries., Classification for Washington Workers' Compensation Insurance, in 296-17A-5005 Washington Administrative Code, Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Editor 2010. http://apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=296-17A-5005
3. Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Forest Practice Water Typing. 1/4/2012; Available from: https://www.dnr.wa.gov/forest-practices-water-typing.
4. Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Forest Practice Board Manual, Forest Practice Board, Editor 2010, Washington State Department of Natural Resources Olympia, WA. p. 1-16.
5. Hallonborg, U., Closer inspection of chains can reduce danger of chain shot, in Results 2002, The Forestry Research Institute of Sweden: Uppsala, Sweden.
6. Live Science Staff. Military: New Aluminum Windows Stop .50-Calibur Bullet. 2005 [cited 2013 March 27, 2013]; Available from: www.livescience.com/420-military-aluminum-windows-stop-50-caliber-bullet.html.
7. Chain Shot Primer 10/2012. Available from https://woodbusiness.annexweb.com/harvesting/chain-shot-primer

INVESTIGATOR INFORMATION:

Todd Schoonover has a PhD in Industrial Hygiene from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) and Certified Safety Professional (CSP). Todd is currently the Principal Investigator for the WA FACE program.

Eric Jalonen has a Master’s in Public Health from East Carolina University. He is a Research Investigator with the WA FACE program.

Randy Clark has a BA from The Evergreen State College. He is a Research Analyst with the WA FACE program.

Washington State FACE Program Information

The Washington State Fatality Assessment and Control (WA FACE) program is one of many workplace health and safety programs administered by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries’ Safety & Health & Research for Prevention (SHARP) program. It is a research program designed to identify and study fatal occupational injuries. Under a cooperative agreement with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH grant# 5 U60 OH008487-09), WA FACE collects information on occupational fatalities in WA State and targets specific types of fatalities for evaluation. WA FACE investigators evaluate information from multiple sources. Findings are summarized in narrative reports that include recommendations for preventing similar events in the future. These recommendations are distributed to employers, workers, and other organizations interested in promoting workplace safety. NIOSH-funded, state-based FACE programs include: California, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington. WA FACE does not determine fault or legal liability associated with a fatal incident. Names of employers, victims and/or witnesses are not included in written investigative reports or other databases to protect the confidentiality of those who voluntarily participate in the program.

Additional information regarding the WA FACE program can be obtained from:

Washington State FACE Program
www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/FACE/default.asp
PO Box 44330
Olympia, WA 98504-4330
1-888-667-4277

Publication #: # 10WA04801 | # 52-30-2014 | 02-24-2014

---