OFA Update
New Year, New OFA Office
We have moved! You will now find us at 399 E. Main St. Suite 220, Columbus, OH 43215. Please update all bill pay services to reflect this change. This is also the new address for the OFA Foundation and Ohio Tree Farm Committee. Stop in and see us soon!
If you would like to join the OFA team, we are currently hiring a Director of Communications and Member Engagement. Find more information and apply here.
Book Your Room for OFA Annual Meeting Today
Make your reservations online here or call the hotel at 614-463-1234 and ask for the OFA rate code G-MBS0. The room block will close on January 20, 2025, so do not miss out on OFA’s special rate!
Conservation Award Nominations are due; please submit your nominations online here for:
Outstanding Individual in Government Service
Outstanding Individual in Industry
Outstanding Individual in Private Service
Outstanding Logger Activist
Walt Lange Conservation Education Award
Lashbrook-Woyar Award for Distinguished Service to OFA Foundation
Sponsorship opportunities are also available:
President's Reception $1000 - Includes 1 Registration for the Annual Meeting
Awards Luncheon $1,000 - Includes 1 Registration for the Annual Meeting
Shuttle Bus Sponsor $750
Continental Breakfast/Break Sponsor $750
Bar Sponsor During Breaks $750
Student Attendee Sponsorship $250
Email Jim@ohioforest.org to sponsor the OFA Annual Meeting.
CSAW Courses Available
We are now scheduling courses for the 2025 Calendar Year. Please reach out to Jim Harding (jim@ohioforest.org) or 888-388-7337 (Ext. 3124) to inquire about CSAW Trainings or to schedule a training in your area.
We offer three standard levels of training. Our CSAW Basic course is designed for those who need basic instruction in chainsaw safety and operations. All participants in this class will receive one-on-one individualized instruction running a chainsaw and cutting smaller diameter, downed pieces of wood. Our CSAW Level I is also designed for those who need basic instruction in chainsaw safety and operations. However, this course includes one-on-one individualized instruction on tree felling. Our CSAW Level II includes more advanced cutting and felling techniques and participants must have taken CSAW Level I as a prerequisite. These classes run 8 hours and are taught by our highly skilled, certified CSAW instructors.
Market Update
HardwoodReview Forecasting
Export volumes were expected to trend higher through year-end, especially to China, so the Oct setback was a bit of a surprise. However, some exporters blamed the slowdown on the Oct 1-Oct 3 port strike, which disrupted and delayed shipments all month for some. The data seem to back that up, as Oct shipments held up better to Canada and Mexico than to most ma[1]jor overseas markets. We may be talking about record Nov volumes next month—with two months’ of shipments stuffed into one, on top of pre-Lunar New Year and pre-tariff activity. However, that will largely be a statistical “win” only, especially with domestic demand remaining seasonally and historically weak.
U.S. cabinet manufacturers’ sales are down for a second year, despite higher single-family housing starts, likely due to the 7% rise in imported cabinets in 2024 and the shift to less-costly RTA cabinets, many or most of which are also imported. Even if housing starts tick higher again in 2025, substitutionary pressures won’t abate and domestic manufacturers could lose further ground. While hardwood lumber producers and sellers don’t seem to have much to celebrate right now, and additional attrition is possible before spring, there is a looming sense that even a small demand increase could quickly trigger supply shortages and price spikes.
Safety Update
OSHA Recordkeeping
The beginning of 2025 is here and that means your OSHA (private employers) Recordkeeping logs, summary and online reporting will be due. Throughout the year you should be updating your OSHA Logs as injuries occur. OSHA requires employers to evaluate injuries and determine if they need to be recorded on the log within 7 days of being notified of the injury. Here is a reminder of the due dates for recordkeeping:
OSHA Summary forms must be completed and posted by February 1st.
The OSHA online reporting is due March 2nd.
If you are unsure whether you need to complete the logs or online reporting, you will first need to determine if you are required.
Exemptions
OSHA - There are two exemptions from keeping the OSHA 300 Log.
Companies with 10 or fewer employees at all times during the calendar year. The only exception to this is if you are specifically requested by OSHA, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) or another agency to keep a log. If you receive a request, do not ignore it.
The other exemption is for establishments classified in certain low-hazard industries. You will need your NAICS number and check it against the list of “Partially Exempt Industries” at: https://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/presentations/exempttable.
*Remember private employers must report to OSHA any workplace incident that results in a fatality, in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye.
Recordkeeping Logs and Summary Forms
OSHA - If you are required to keep the log, download the Recordkeeping Forms and instructions by clicking on the link: https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/OSHA-RK-Forms-Package.pdf.
Online Submission
The final step in the process is to determine if you must file online.
OSHA - To determine if your organization is required to do so, enter the following information for your facility at the following link https://www.osha.gov/itareportapp:
“State” in which your facility is located,
“Peak Employment from the previous year” – be sure include temporary and seasonal workers,
“Is the establishment a government facility” and
Your “NAICS Code”.
Once the information is entered, click the “Submit” button and it will identify what, if any, information your facility needs to submit online. There will be one of four replies:
You are exempt from completing the OSHA Log and not required to submit online.
You will not be required to submit anything online.
You will be required to submit information from your OSHA 300A form.
You will be required to submit information from your OSHA 300, 300A and 301 Forms.
If your establishment is required to submit online, then you must create a secure account on OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application found here: https://www.osha.gov/injuryreporting/ita if you are a new user. Once you have successfully set up an account, then you can submit your OSHA Log, OSHA 300A Summary or OSHA 301 Injury Information. If you are only required to submit your OSHA 300A Summary information, the process is a fairly straight forward, just be sure to have your NAICS number, average number of employees and total work hours entered on your OSHA 300A Summary report.
If you are required to submit your OSHA 300 and OSHA 301 information you have two options. You can either choose to input each recordable injury individually or perform a batch upload. The batch upload can save time for establishments with numerous recordable injuries.
One final note, even if you have not completed your logs or online reporting in past years, it is still a good idea to get these completed as soon as possible. Both OSHA and PERRP recommend creating your logs and submitting your data, if possible, even if you are past the due date – remember better late than never!
For more information, please contact Sedgwick’s Andy Sawan at 330.819.4728 or andrew.sawan@sedgwick.com.
Additional Links
Sedgwick Workers Compensation Article
ECOFA January Newsletter
Upcoming Events
2025 Annual Meeting
2/5/2025 » 2/6/2025
Location: Hyatt Regency, Columbus, Ohio
OFA Proudly Supports
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