The Nation's forests are a rich natural resource, providing beauty and tranquility, varied recreational areas, and wood for commercial use. Managing forests and woodlands requires many different kinds of workers. Forestry and conservation workers help develop, maintain, and protect these forests by growing and planting new tree seedlings, fighting insects and diseases that attack trees, and helping to control soil erosion. Timber cutting and logging workers harvest thousands of acres of forests each year for the timber that provides the raw material for countless consumer and industrial products.
Generally working under the direction of a professional forester, forestry technicians compile data on the characterisics of forest land tracts such as size, content, and condition. These workers travel through sections of forest to gather basic information such as species and population of trees, disease and insect damage, tree seedling mortality, and conditions that may cause fire danger. One of the main jobs of the forestry technician is to determine which timber in a particuliar tract of forest is ready to be harvested. They also train and lead conservation workers in seasonal activities such as planting tree seedlings, putting out forest fires, and maintaining recreational facilities.
Forest workers are less skilled workers who perform a variety of different tasks to reforest and conserve timberlands and maintain forest facilities such as roads and campsites. Some forest workers called tree planters plant new tree seedlings to reforest timberland areas, using a mattock and planting hoe. They also remove diseased or undesirable trees with a powersaw or handsaw and spray trees with herbicides to kill insects and to protect against disease. Forest workers also clear away brush and debris from camp trails, roadsides, and camping areas. Some clean kitchens and rest rooms at recreational facilities and campgrounds.
Other forestry and conservation workers work in forest nurseries sorting out tree seedlings, discarding those that do not meet predescribed standards of root formation, stem development, and foilage condition.
Some forestry workers work on tree farms, where they plant, cultivate, and harvest many different kinds of trees. Their duties also include shearing the tops and limbs to control growth, increase limb density, and improve the shape. Others classify trees into specified categories by examining the tree's limbs and foilage for color and growth pattern.
Other forest workers gather products from the woodlands such as decorative greens, tree cones and barks, moss, or other wild plant life from the forest by hand or using handtools, and others tap trees for sap to make syrup or to produce chemicals.
The timber cutting and logging process is carried out by a variety of workers. Fallers cut down trees with chain saws or mechanical felling equipment. Buckers trim off the tops and branches and buck (cut) the resulting logs into specified lengths. These workers usually use gas-powered chain saws.
Choker setters fasten chokers (steel cables or chains) around logs to be skidded (dragged) by tractors or forwarded by the cable yarding system to the landing. Riggers set up and dismantle the cables and guy wires of the cable yarding system.
Logging tractor operators drive crawler or wheeled tractors to skid logs from the felling site to the landing, and log handling equipment operators operate tracked or wheeled equipment to load or unload logs and pulpwood onto or off trucks or gondola railroad cars.
Log graders and scalers inspect logs for defects, measure logs to determine their volume, and estimate the marketable content or value of logs or pulpwood.
Other timber cutting and logging workers have a variety of responsibilities. Some workers hike through forests to assess logging conditions and estimate the volume of marketable timber. Laborers clear areas of brush and other growth to prepare for logging activities and to promote growth of desirable species of trees. Other workers use sledge hammers, mallets, wedges, and froes (cleaving tools) to split logs to form posts, pickets, stakes, and other objects.
The timber cutting and logging industry is characterized by a large number of small crews of four or fewer workers primarily fallers, buckers, choker setters, and others whose jobs are labor intensive. Most of these crews work for self-employed logging contractors who possess substantial logging experience, the capital to purchase equipment, and the skills needed to run a small business successfully. Most contractors work alongside their crews as working supervisors. Many manage more than one crew and function as owner-supervisors.
Although timber cutting and logging equipment has greatly improved and operations are becoming increasingly mechanized, many logging jobs are still labor intensive. These jobs require various levels of skill, ranging from manually moving logs, branches, and equipment to skillfully using chain saws, peavies (hooked poles), and log jacks to cut and position logs for further processing or loading. Skillful operation of vehicles and equipment is necessary to avoid accidents and to minimize damage to the equipment and environment. The ability to maintain and repair equipment is increasingly necessary to reduce costs and increase productivity. A skillful, experienced logger is expected to handle a variety of logging operations.
Increased mechanization of logging operations will reduce demand for timber cutting and logging workers.
Forestry and logging occupations are physically demanding. Most forestry and logging workers often work outdoors in all kinds of weather sometimes in isolated areas. To get to these areas, they may use airplanes, helicopters, four wheel drive vehicles, and horses. A few lumber camps in Alaska house workers in bunkhouses or company towns. Workers in sparsely populated Western States daily commute long distances between their homes and logging sites. In the densely populated Eastern States, commuting distances are much shorter.
Most logging occupations involve lifting, climbing, and other strenuous activities. Logging workers work under unusually hazardous conditions. Falling trees and branches are a constant menace, as are the dangers associated with log handling operations and use of sawing equipment, especially delimbing devices. Strong winds require special care and can even halt operations. Slippery or muddy ground and hidden roots or vines not only reduce efficiency but present a constant danger, especially in the presence of moving vehicles and machinery. Poisonous plants and brambles are minor annoyances. Over long periods of time, if safety precautions are not taken, hearing may be impaired by the high noise level of sawing and skidding operations. Experience, exercise of caution, and use of proper safety measures and equipment such as hardhats, eye and hearing protection, and safety clothing and boots are extremely important to avoid injury.
The jobs of forestry and conservation workers are generally much less hazarduous although it may be necessary for some forestry aides or forest workers to walk long distances through densely wooded areas to carry out their work.
Forestry and logging workers held about 131,000 jobs in 1992, distributed among the following occupations:
Forest and conservation workers.................................35,000
Fallers and buckers.............................................33,000
Logging tractor operators.......................................26,000
Log handling equipment operators................................15,000
All other cutting and related logging occupations...............22,000
Most salaried logging workers are employed in the logging camps and logging contractors industry. Others work in the sawmills and planing mills and arborist services industries. Although logging operations are found in most States, Oregon and Washington account for about 1 out of every 4 logging workers.
Self-employed logging contractors account for 1 of every 4 logging workers a much higher proportion of self-employment than for most occupations.
Most forestry and conservation workers work for government at some level. One-half of these workers are employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forestry Service. Although forestry workers and conservation workers are located in every State, employment is concentrated in the Western and Southeastern States where many national and private forests and parks are located.
While seasonal demand for forestry and logging workers will vary slightly by region, employment generally is highest in the summer and lowest in the winter.
Most forestry and logging workers develop their skills through on-the-job training. Instruction comes primarily from experienced workers. Logging workers must familiarize themselves with the character and potential dangers of the forest environment and the operation of logging machinery and equipment. However, larger logging companies and trade associations such as the Northeastern Loggers Association and the American Pulpwood Association may offer special programs, particularly for workers training to operate large, expensive machinery and equipment. Often, a representative of the manufacturer or company may spend several days in the field explaining and overseeing the operation of newly purchased machinery. Safety training is a vital part of instruction for all logging workers.
Log graders and scalers make up the only logging occupation that requires certification on a nationwide basis. However, in recent years, several States in the Northeast have established certification training programs for logging. To be certified individuals have to meet certain training requirements and pass an on site field inspection that tests their skills.
Experience in other occupations can expedite entry into various logging occupations. For example, woodworkers such as carpenters and sawyers can become buckers. Equipment operators such as truckdrivers and bulldozer and crane operators can assume skidding and yarding functions. Some loggers have worked in sawmills or on family farms with extensive wooded areas. Some logging contractors were formerly crew members of family-owned businesses operated over several generations.
Generally, little formal education is required for most forestry and logging occupations. The minimum requirement for a forestry aide is a high school education. Many secondary schools, including vocational and technical schools, and a few community colleges offer courses in general forestry, wildlife, conservation, and forest harvesting which could be helpful in obtaining a job. A curriculum that includes field trips to observe or participate in forestry or logging activities provides a particularly good background. There are no educational requirements for forest worker jobs Many of these workers may be high school or college students who are hired on a part-time or seasonal basis.
Forestry and logging workers must be in good health and be able to work outdoors every day and to work as part of a team. Many logging occupations require physical strength and stamina. Maturity and good judgment are important in making quick, intelligent decisions in dealing with hazards as they arise. Mechanical aptitude and coordination are necessary qualities for operators of machinery and equipment, who often are responsible for repair and maintenance as well. Initiative and managerial and business skills are necessary for success as a self-employed logging contractor.
Experience working at a nursery or as a laborer can be useful in obtaining a job as a forest worker. Logging workers generally advance from occupations involving primarily manual labor to those involving the operation of expensive, sometimes complicated machinery and equipment. Inexperienced entrants generally begin as laborers, carrying tools and equipment, clearing brush, and loading and unloading logs and brush. For some, familiarization with logging operations may lead to jobs such as choker setter and log handling equipment operator. Further experience may lead to jobs involving the operation of more complicated machinery and yarding towers to transport, load, and unload logs. Those who have the motor skills required for the efficient use of power saws and other equipment may become fallers and buckers. Some logging workers who can readily assess the marketable volume of timber or identify defects in logs may become cruisers and graders.
Little change in the overall employment of forestry and logging workers is expected through the year 2005. Most job openings for forestry and logging workers will result from replacement needs. Many logging workers transfer to other jobs that are less physically demanding and dangerous. In addition, many forestry workers are younger workers who are not committed to the occupation on a long term basis. Some take jobs to earn money for school, others only take these jobs until they find a better paying job.
Employment in timber cutting and logging occupations is expected to decline. Despite an increase in demand for lumber and wood products, increased mechanization of logging operations and improvements in logging equipment will depress the demand for workers. In addition, forest conservation efforts may restrict the volume of public timber available for harvesting, further dampening demand for timber cutting and logging workers.
Employment of forestry and conservation workers is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations as environmental concerns help spur the demand for workers who maintain and conserve our woodlands. However, applicants for forestry and conservation worker positions are expected to face competition because many young people seek these jobs as an opportunity to work outdoors and enjoy nature without being exposed to hazardous conditions and or extremely hard physical labor.
Increasing mechanization will have differing effects on timber cutting and logging workers. Employment of fallers, buckers, choke setters, and other workers whose jobs are labor intensive should decline as safer, laborsaving machinery and equipment are increasingly used. Employment of machinery and equipment operators, such as logging tractor and log handling equipment operators, should be less adversely affected.
Weather can force curtailment of logging operations during the muddy spring season, dry summer periods, and cold winter months. Changes in the level of construction, particularly residential, also affect logging activities. In addition, logging operations must be relocated when timber harvesting in a particular area has been completed. During prolonged periods of inactivity, some workers may stay on the job to maintain or repair logging machinery and equipment; others are forced to find jobs in other occupations or be without work.
Median weekly earnings for all full-time forestry and logging technicians who were not self-employed were $296 in 1992. The middle 50 percent earned between $210 and $408 weekly. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $159, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $556. Generally, earnings of more skilled workers, such as fallers and yarder operators, are substantially higher than those of less skilled workers, such as laborers and choker setters.
Earnings of logging workers vary widely by size of establishment and geographic area. Earnings of workers in the largest establishments are much higher than those in the smallest establishments. Workers in Alaska and the Northwest earn substantially more than those in the South.
In 1993, forestry aides who worked for the Federal Government averaged about $26,600.
Most forestry and conservation workers work for Federal, State, and local governments and large private firms, which generally offer more generous benefits for example, pension and retirement plans, health and life insurance, and paid vacations than smaller firms. Small logging contractors generally offer timber cutting and logging workers few benefits. However, some employers offer full-time workers basic benefits such as medical coverage and provide safety apparel and equipment.
Many logging workers in the Northwest, where the larger establishments are concentrated, are members of either one of two unions the International Woodworkers of America or the Western Council of Industrial Workers.
Other occupations concerned with the care of trees and their environment include arborist, gardener, groundskeeper, landscaper, nursery worker, range aide and soil conservation technician.
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Reprinted with Permission of U. S. Department of Labor