A working group charged with examining log harvesting and hauling in the state, is recommending that enhanced enforcement of worker classification laws, load limit laws and more education of haulers and harvesters in best business practices would benefit the forest products industry.
The Attorney General is now seeking public comment on the interim report, which cites a shift from large industrial landowners, who previously hired harvesters as employees, to landowners who contract independently for those services now. That shift places the obligation for workers’ compensation, health and retirement benefits on to the contractor, which in turn eats into profitability. The report says compensation rates for contractors are reportedly set by the value of an overloaded truck.
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