The University of Idaho has a received an $825,000 from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention to develop techniques to save the lives of those working in the woods.
Researchers from the College of Natural Resources working in UI’s Experimental Forest will use the funds to install GPS technology on the heavy equipment used in logging. The technology will allow other equipment operators to track the locations of their fellow workers without leaving the equipment cab.
“Federal support of research to improve the safety of employees engaged in this dangerous, yet highly necessary, industry is timely and relevant to the industry,” said Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho. “I can’t think of anywhere more suited for conducting this research than on the UI Experimental Forest.”
Logging is among the most dangerous professions in the United States and improvements in safety are critical to the industry. “Logging safety is always a concern, and being able to conduct research to save lives of our Idahoans is the most important research we can do,” said Rob Keefe, assistant professor in the College on Natural Resources.
The grant is an example of how the College of Natural Resources uses state money through the Forest Utilization Research budget to leverage further competitive funding for relevant research impacting Idaho’s economy. Natural resources and the associated industries contribute more than $5.4 billion to Idaho’s economy each year, according to UI’s Policy Analysis Group. The Associated Logging Contractors also supports the project.
From the University Of Idaho: https://www.uidaho.edu/newsevents/item?name=federal-grant-supports-ui-logger-safety-research