Our Mission

The National Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety (THATS) Foundation is a charitable 501(c)3 organization administered by the Forest Resources Association. Established in 1991, THATS has the following Mission: “to promote, support, and serve as a catalyst for safe and professional work attitudes, practices, and conditions in timber harvesting and transportation.” For more information, and a downloadable brochure, please click here.

Message From Our Chairman

There are about 20,000 logging businesses across the United States, employing approximately 100,000 people. Forest products transportation workers add significantly to this total. Although mechanization and improved safety practices have made these jobs much safer, they are still some of the most dangerous occupations, with a fatality rate that far exceeds the average for American workers.

The National Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety Foundation has been diligent in fulfilling its mission of promoting safety among the ranks of logging and timber products transportation workers by providing grants exceeding $150,000 in just the last five years. Publication and distribution of this information, in cooperation with the Forest Resources Association, state forestry associations, professional logger associations, and other organizations, has made safety information available to a vast number of logging industry workers.

The work of the National Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety Foundation is ongoing and vital. The Foundation envisions continuous improvement in the following areas of the timber harvesting and forest products transportation environment:

• Forest workers will be properly trained and will utilize personal protective equipment.
• All timber harvesting and transportation operations will utilize and enforce active safety programs.
• Timber harvesting and transportation worker injury and fatality rates will continue to decrease significantly.
• Consuming mills will have programs that promote and encourage safety improvements.
• State forestry schools will have active safety research and extension programs.
• Participation in the development and dissemination of research and training materials by state forestry and professional logger associations will continue to increase.
• Timber harvesting and transportation operations will be viewed as safe and valued employment.
• Operating costs for timber harvesting and transportation operations will be reduced through safer operations as a result of fewer accidents and injuries.

With your help, the National Timber Harvesting and Transportation Safety Foundation will continue to work toward its mission and goals on behalf of the entire forest products industry.

John Lemire, Chairman
National THATS Foundation