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Scientists, managers partner to reduce severe injuries to wildland firefighters

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Federal wildland firefighters perform hazardous tasks in hazardous environments. (Forest Service photo by Kari Greer) Even the best-trained and well-resourced firefighter can get seriously, or even fatally, injured while protecting lives and resources. Advancing our understanding about…
#FirefighterSafety, #Firefighters, #Safety

Field Guide for Tree Risk Assessments and Hazard Tree Mitigation on Developed Recreation Sites, Worksites, and Road Systems in Oregon and Washington Forests

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Assessing and mitigating risks posed by hazard trees improves the safety of forest users and workers. This field guide proposes a framework that can be applied nationally to any forested landscape. It also provides detailed information on the most common tree species and diseases found in Oregon and Washington. Updated from the 2016 version, this edition includes new photos and the latest best practices for assessing and managing trees at risk of harming people or damaging property. 

#Recreation, #ForestManagement, #Disease, #Hazards, #Safety

Woodsy Owl helps raise awareness of safe battery disposal

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Woodsy Owl has taught generations of children to "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute." Now he's focusing on safe battery disposal. (USDA Forest Service photo by Cecilio Ricardo) The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service has partnered with the National Waste & Recycling Foundation for a new public…
#ConservationEducation, #WoodsyOwl, #Safety

Innovating safety: Allegheny National Forest

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Swift action is taken by Allegheny National Forest staff to mitigate the reported hazards at Twin Lakes Recreation Area. (USDA Forest Service photo by Joshua Bridge) As an employer of thousands of field-going personnel, such as wildland firefighters, law enforcement officers, and forestry technicians, the…
#Technology, #Communications, #Safety

Meet Smokey Bear in Washington, DC!

Image shows a Forest Service employee pointing to something for a visitor while animatronic Smokey Bear looks on.
Smokey Bear stands outside the USDA Forest Service entrance. Come in to visit our Information Center and meet Smokey! (USDA Forest Service photo by Alex Demas) Imagine you’re a tourist visiting Washington, DC. As you walk along the south side of the Mall towards the Washington Monument, out…
#SmokeyBear, #History, #WildfirePrevention, #Safety

Shawnee National Forest Bee Sting learning review 

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On Aug. 20, 2024, Shawnee National Forest employee Austin Davidson died after being stung by bees. Working in a lowland management area, Davidson and a coworker were clearing brush using weed trimmers. Davidson came upon a concealed ground nest, the bees were disturbed, and an attack response was provoked. The…
#OutdoorSafety, #Safety