Blue Collar and Proud of It: The All-In-One Resource for Finding Freedom, Financial Success, and Security Outside the Cubicle (18 page)
Authors: Joe Lamacchia,Bridget Samburg
Tags: #Business
Loggers are in such short supply right now that some logging companies in theWest are offeringmoving expenses or even signing bonuses in hopes of luring people to the industry. At one time it was customary for these companies to recruit new blood directly from the logging communities in which they are based. But many young adults are now heading for urban areas, and logging companies are in search of people to fill openings.
The Work
Our nation’s forests are a rich natural resource. Managing and harvesting themrequires a variety of workers. Forest and conservationwork-ers develop, maintain, and protect forests by growing and planting new trees, monitoring diseases, and controlling soil erosion. Loggers cut thousands of acres of forests each year for consumer and industrial products, such as building materials and paper products.
More specifically, loggers are responsible for cutting and hauling trees in large quantities along with a crew. Some will cut down treesmanually, while others use sophisticatedmachines. A variety of equipment is used to remove and move trees, to chip the wood, and to load the hauls for transport.The industry used to requiremoremanual labor but nowrelies on equipment to domuch of the work.The ability to operate this equipment is beneficial for loggers looking for employment opportunities.
Some loggers are hired to scout logging sites, which means hiking through remote areas to assess accessibility and conditions.Others clear paths for crews and equipment. Most crews work for self-employed contractors who have substantial logging experience.
Some forest workers spend time physically planting trees. They may also be expected to remove trees when disease strikes. Many forestry workers clear paths, document trees, andmonitor growth of areas. Some work in forest-based nurseries, forcing new growth andmonitoring tree sustainability.
Forest, conservation, and logging workersmust be in good health and able to work outside every day. For loggers, it’s important to be able to work as part of a crew. Many loggers compare theirwork to that of a football team; they say you have to work as one unit, with one game plan, to succeed. Physical stamina is crucial, as is the ability to make quick decisions and have good judgment, since it’s not uncommon for dangerous situations to arise. Mechanical skills are also helpful for fixing a variety of equipment used in the logging process.
Work Setting
Forestry and logging jobs are physically demanding. Workers spend almost all of their time outdoors, sometimes in poor weather and often in isolated areas. But some regard these remote areas as a perk of the job, since they have the opportunity to see and enjoy patches of the earth that haven’t been explored for decades.
Most logging occupations involve lifting, climbing, and other strenuous activities, althoughmachinery has eliminated some heavy labor.Thework of logging can be hazardous, but safety precautions are taken seriously. Some of the newer equipment also includes enclosed areas for drivers or operators, making the loggers less susceptible to inclement weather. Still, loggers must be prepared to work in all conditions. Working in sparsely populated areasmaymean commuting long distances to the logging sites.
The requirements of forest and conservation workers generally offer fewer hazards than those of loggers, but anyone in this sectormust almost constantly be dealing with variable weather conditions.
Training and Certification
Most people in this industry, especially those at the entry level, develop skills on the job. “Ninety-nine percent of it is learn as you go, ” says Jim Gahlsdorf, owner of Gahlsdorf Logging, in the Salem, Oregon, area. Successful loggersmust be familiar with the processes involved as well as how to operate the equipment. Safety training is a vital and required part of the instruction of all logging workers, and some states actually offer this for free. Logger training varies with each state, with some programs leading to logger certification. Logging companies and trade associations also offer training programs for workers who operate the larger equipment.
Some postsecondary schools offer two-year technical degrees in forestry, wildlifemanagement, conservation, and forest harvesting, all of which are helpful in obtaining a job. Training programs for loggers and foresters can include sessions on encouraging the health and productivity of the country’s woods. Many forestry workers have the opportunity to advance to management positions. Advanced degrees in forestry are common among conservation workers and are beneficial for those who wish to advance in the field.
Success in the Real World
Wesley Hirons, logger, Rickreall, Oregon
Wesley Hirons grew up around logging and started to learn the ropeswhen hewas just in elementary school.His family had a logging business in Mills City, Oregon, a timber town not far from Salem. By eighth grade he was running some of the more sophisticated equipment, but after high school Hirons decided to spend four years in the navy. “I knew I would spend the rest of my life in the woods.” And for the past ten years he’s been working in logging full-time.For the past two years he’s been with Gahlsdorf Logging in Rickreall, Oregon. “It’s something I know how to do.” To succeed in the business Hirons says you have to want to work hard. “With logging, you really have to perform, ” he says. “Your progress is immediately noticed, since you are usuallyworking side by side with your boss.” He actually loves that and enjoys the challenge.
Working outside is another aspect that has always appealed toHirons, who can’t imagine going to work in an office each day. “It’s very physical work, ” he says of what he does, adding that he’s convinced climbingmoun-tains and hauling logs has added years to his life. At forty-one, he’s fit and healthy andwouldn’t consider joining a gym.But his days start as soon as light breaks, and depending on the season that can bewell before 6:00 AM. Snow and rain don’t stand in a logger’s way either. “Weather does not dictate or determine work, ” says Hirons. “We’re like the mailman.” Only he adds thatworkwill be delayed during lightning or severewinds for safety reasons.
The teameffort is another aspect of logging thatHirons finds appealing. “ Working with a group of guys to accomplish something; there’s a bit of bonding there.”
Hirons also enjoys the beauty of the mountains and the opportunity to see pockets of the forests that fewpeople ever have a chance to see.The earlymornings, just before sunrise, are some of his favorite times. “There’s something about getting up early, you get a jump on the day, ” he says. “I’m seeing creeks that probably haven’t been seen for eighty years.”
Hirons started off in the entry-level logging positions at Gahlsdorf, but he’s a supervisor now who oversees daily operations to ensure that logs are moving out at the right pace and that everyone is keeping up with their assigned jobs.He can’t imagine spending his days doing anything else. “There’s a lot of roomtomove up for people who have a lot of gumption.”
The Numbers
There were about 88, 000 jobs in this industry in 2006, with approximately 20, 000 in forest conservation. More than one-third worked for the government, at the local or state level. Overall, employment opportunities are not expected to change through 2016, and most job open-ingswill come fromretiring loggers.But forestryworkerswill see asmuch as a 10 percent increase in job opportunities through 2016, whichmeans another 2, 000 positions. Demand is expected to increase as additional land is set aside to protect natural resources or wildlife habitats.
Earnings vary within these two sectors. When it comes to logging, the earnings often start atminimumwage. The average hourly earnings of a logging operator were $14.28 in 2006. Salaries vary significantly depending on the size and location of a logging company. For example, workers inAlaska and theNorthwest earnmore than those in the South, where the cost of living is also generally lower. Forestry and conservation positions often pay more than $26.00 an hour to those who are experienced.
MASON
What do the Egyptian pyramids, the Great Wall of China, and the Roman Colosseumall have in common? Masons built each of thesewon-ders, and each one of these pieces of history has been standing for thousands of years. And another thousand years from now the work of masons will remain. Masonry is an ancient art and a craft and is often an integral part of a building, landscape, or community.
The Work
The level of complexity inmasonry varies widely fromsimple patios and stone walls to complex and ornate buildings. Somemasons specialize in renovating antique brickwork. Masons cut and break material, design projects, and lay brick. The work can be both creative and formulaic. Masonsmust be adept at using specialized tools for cutting and hammering stone. After finishing laying the bricks, blocks, or stone, masons must also clean, polish, or treat the finished product. Dependability and a strong work ethic are keys to success in this field. Knowledge of basic math—including measurement, volume, mixing proportions, and geometry—are helpful.