LogSafe Training Evaluation:

Trainee Satisfaction

January 2007

Research & Statistics

443 Lafayette Road N.

St. Paul, MN 55155-4307
651-284-5025
dli.research@state.mn.us
www.doli.state.mn.us

Information in this report can be obtained in alternative formats by calling the Department of Labor and
Industry at 1-800-342-5354 or TTY at (651) 297-4198
LogSafe Training Evaluation: Trainee Satisfaction
Introduction
LogSafe seminar participants expressed general
satisfaction with the LogSafe program in a
customer survey administered to participants
during seminars conducted in spring 2006.
Seminar participants reported that they were
satisfied with the training facilities, the
instructor’s knowledge, and the instructor’s
ability to answer questions. Attendees also
believed that the training helps them with their
day-to-day work and that the training makes
their worksites safer.
In addition to the current training, participants
would like to see training in safe use of
mechanized equipment, equipment repair, and
forest worker diseases. Participants expressed a
preference for the training format to change to a
half-day seminar and a half-day Safety
Consultation worksite visit. Web-based training
is the second most-preferred training option.
Slightly more than half of LogSafe seminar
attendees categorize themselves as employees;
about one-fourth list themselves as sole-
proprietors; and the remainder categorize
themselves as employers.
The LogSafe program
The LogSafe program is a service of the
Workplace Safety Consultation (WSC) unit at
the Minnesota Department of Labor and
Industry (DLI). WSC offers free consultation
services and training to help employers prevent
workplace accidents and diseases. WSC’s
services are targeted to smaller employers in
high hazard industries – such as the logging
industry.
LogSafe seminars are free training sessions
conducted throughout the state for employers
and employees in the logging industry. The
eight-hour seminars include training on proper
felling techniques, high-speed disc-saw safety,
how to document and avoid near-miss accidents,
what to do in case of severe weather, first-aid,
and mandated safety and health programs. In
addition to private sector employers and
1
employees, WSC also provides LogSafe training
to public sector employers involved in tree
removal. Attendance is required for application to
the Targeted Industry Rebate program, pursuant to
Minnesota Statutes §176.130, and is a requirement
to maintain membership in the Minnesota Logger
Education Program (MLEP).
The state earmarks $125,000 per year for LogSafe.
Logging employers receive workers’
compensation premium rebates if they show that
they have workers’ compensation insurance and
that each of their employees has participated in
either LogSafe training or another 8-hour DLI-
approved training program.
LogSafe training 2006
Participants in the LogSafe 2006 seminars chose
one of two tracks, one on cardio-pulmonary
resuscitation and first aid, the other on various
safety topics (see below). Lunch and all resource
and training materials were provided at no charge.
Each seminar ran from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with
registration beginning at 7:30 a.m.1 As a
convenience, LogSafe training was offered on the
second day of the annual MLEP conferences
(April 12 and April 19). The program was:
8:00 – 8:15 Introduction and updates
8:15-12:00 Track I: Cardio-pulmonary
resuscitation
Track II: OSHA's logging standard,
workers’ compensation, welding
hazards
1:00 – 4:00 Track I: First aid
Track II: Equipment fire
suppression, Lyme’s disease,
logging site inspections
4:00 – 4:30 Closing: questions and evaluation
Seminars were held on the following dates, in
the following locations:
1
In lieu of the pre-set training course, free on-site
training is available to groups of any size.
LogSafe Training Evaluation: Trainee Satisfaction

population, the large response rate suggests that

April 4 Baudette aggregate responses are very likely representative
April 5 International Falls of those of all loggers.
April 12 Biwabik (MLEP conference)
April 19 Bemidji (MLEP conference) Training attendees
April 20 Grand Rapids
April 25 Two Harbors Most attendees are either employees or sole
April 26 Cloquet proprietors, with employees representing just over
April 27 Biwabik half (52 percent) and proprietors making up just
May 2 Bemidji over a fourth (27 percent). The group identified in
May 3 Brainerd this report as proprietors marked the “Other” job
category on the survey, which includes sole
In the fall, make-up dates were available:
proprietors and owner-partners. Nineteen percent
Oct. 3 International Falls responded that they were employers and 2 percent
Oct. 4 Bemidji of those who turned in surveys did not identify
Oct. 5 Cloquet their status.

LogSafe seminar participants are most often repeat

The survey customers. Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) had
attended four or more LogSafe seminars prior to
LogSafe seminar participants were surveyed at this seminar. Only 9 percent of participants were
all seminars held during April and May 2005. In attending their first seminar. Less than one percent
each case, surveys were handed out at the end of of those who turned in surveys did not respond to
the day-long seminar. After handing out surveys, this question.
the instructor left the room. Participants left their
surveys in a box by the door and after everyone
had left the instructor returned, sealed the box
Satisfaction
without looking at its contents and delivered
LogSafe seminar participants are generally
them to DLI Research & Statistics for analysis.
satisfied with the seminars. Satisfaction for the
Surveys were turned in by 730 of the 839
purposes of this analysis means that participants
seminar participants (an 87 percent response
responded that they either agree or strongly agree
rate).
with statements about whether or not they were
Table 1 LogSafe survey response rates, 2002 – 2006 satisfied with an aspect of the seminar.
Satisfaction ratings are slightly higher than the
responses to last year’s survey.
Calendar Response
Year Attendees Surveys rate Table 2 LogSafe satisfaction rates, 2002 – 2006
2002 1,099 1,008 92%
2004 1,049 954 88%
Satisfaction %
2005 [1] 939 861 92% Satisfaction with: 2002 2004 2005 2006
2006 [1] 839 730 87% Meeting facilities 81 88 85 87
[1] In 2005 and 2006 surveys were collected only Training session 82 85 78 84
at the April and May seminars.
Seminar instructors 88 90 87 87
Answers to questions 83 86 83 88
LogSafe seminars are mandatory. Although
Useful day-to-day 76 79 72 76
OSHA Consultation does not have the means to
Worksite is safer 76 79 74 78
assure that all loggers attend, it is believed that
most do. Although no attempt was made to
evaluate whether the respondent group was Eighty-seven percent of respondents were satisfied
constituted similarly (age, tenure, with the meeting facilities and 84 percent were
employer/employee, etc.) to the whole satisfied with the training. When asked about the

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LogSafe Training Evaluation: Trainee Satisfaction

instructor, 87 percent of respondents were

satisfied with the instructor’s knowledge and 88 Table 5 “I am satisfied with the knowledge of the
seminar instructors”
percent were satisfied with the instructor’s
ability to answer their questions. 100%
90%
“Information from LogSafe training has been 80%
useful in my day-to-day work” and “My 70%
worksite is safer as a result of attending LogSafe 60% 56%

P e r ce nt
training sessions” got slightly lower scores than 50%
other questions. Still, 76 percent of respondents 40%
31%
agreed that the training has been useful in their 30%
day-to-day work and 78 percent said that their 20%
11%
workplace was safer because they attended 10%
LogSafe training. These percentages were above 1% 0%
0%
the levels reported by the 2005. Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree Disagree

Table 3 “I am satisfied with today’s meeting

facilities”

100% Table 6 “My questions are satisfactorily answered

90% during the seminars”
80%
100%
70% 65%
90%
60%
Percent

80%
50%
40% 70%
60%
30% 60%
23%
P e r c e nt

20% 50%
11%
10% 40%
0% 0% 28%
0% 30%
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
20%
Agree Disagree 10%
10%
0% 0%
0%
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree Disagree
Table 4 “I am satisfied with today’s training
session”

100%

90%
80%
70% 62%
60%
Percent

50%
40%
30%
22%
20% 13%
10%
1% 0%
0%
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
Agree Disagree

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LogSafe Training Evaluation: Trainee Satisfaction

Table 7 “Information from LogSafe training has Table 9 Average satisfaction scores, by type of
been useful in my day-to-day work” attendee (strongly agree=4, strongly
disagree=0)
100%

90% Type of Attendee

80% Satisfaction with: ER EE SP
70% Meeting facilities 3.1 3.1 3.1
59% Training session 3.0 3.1 3.0
60%
P e r c e nt

Seminar instructors 3.1 3.2 3.2

50%
Answers to questions 3.1 3.2 3.2
40%
Useful day-to-day 2.9 2.9 2.9
30%
19% Worksite is safer 2.9 2.9 2.9
20% 17%
Number in group 138 379 200
10% 2% 1%
0%
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Table 10 Average satisfaction scores, by previous
Agree Disagree attendance (strongly agree=4, strongly
disagree=0)

Number of Previous LogSafe

Table 8 “My worksite is safer as a result of Seminars
attending LogSafe training sessions” Satisfaction with: 0 1-3 4-6 7-9 ≥10
100%
Meeting facilities 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.1
Training session 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.1 3.0
90%
Seminar instructors 3.5 3.3 3.2 3.1 3.1
80%
Answers to questions 3.4 3.2 3.1 3.2 3.1
70% Useful day-to-day 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.9
61%
60% Worksite is safer 3.1 3.1 2.9 2.9 2.9
P e r c e nt

50% Number in group 64 116 144 126 271

40%
30%
17% 18%
20%
10% 3%
Future training topics
1%
0%
Strongly Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly When asked what topics they would like to see in
Agree Disagree future seminars (respondents could check as many
options as they liked), safe use of mechanized
equipment received the greatest number of
Differences between employers, employees and responses (22 percent) and use of a Global
proprietors were minor. Satisfaction among Positioning System received the second greatest
respondents who had attended ten or more number (19 percent). At the time of the last survey
previous LogSafe seminars also did not differ in 2004, these two topics also ranked first and
substantially from most other groups. First-time second. Respondents also indicated preferences for
attendees provided slightly more favorable training on equipment repair and forest worker
responses than the other groups. diseases. Few respondents listed as important
training on workers’ compensation and wage and
hour restrictions. There were few differences
among employers, employees and proprietors on
this ranking.

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LogSafe Training Evaluation: Trainee Satisfaction

Training options The last attachment shows all suggestions and

comments in the “training topics,” “training
When asked about future training options, “a options” and “additional comments or
half-day LogSafe seminar and a half-day Safety suggestions” areas. The additional comments are
Consultation visit” received the highest number sorted into “compliments” (38), “constructive”
of responses (26 percent). Respondents could (17), “negative” (6), and “other” (1).
check as many options as they liked. Almost as
many responses were received for “Web-based Conclusions
training on a computer from your home/work”
and for “an 8-hour customized LogSafe training LogSafe attendees are generally quite satisfied
for more than 10 loggers, topic/location of with the quality of the training they receive. The
choice.” There were few differences among greatest dissatisfaction, though small, is with the
employers, employees and proprietors. usefulness of the training in day-to-day work and
the seminar’s effect on workplace safety
The viability of Web-based training depends on improvements. Participants like to receive training
access to computer resources. Two-thirds of the in the safe use of mechanized equipment and about
respondents reported that they had a computer one fourth would like to have a combination of
and had access to the Internet. These LogSafe training and safety consultation services.
percentages were slightly higher for employers
than for employees and proprietors. Recommendations
Attachments • Expand the survey next year to ask how the
training can be more relevant to day-to-day
Attached are: work.
• Continue to provide training in the safe use of
1. a copy of the LogSafe survey, mechanized equipment and equipment repair.
2. a tabular presentation of results from • Plan for a Web-based training system.
all respondents,
3. a tabular presentation of responses
from employers,
4. a tabular presentation of responses
from employees,
5. a tabular presentation of responses
from proprietors,
6. a tabular presentation of responses
from those who had attended 10 or
more times,
7. a tabular comparison of satisfaction
results for employers, employees,
proprietors, and those who had
attended 10 or more times,
8. comments.

5
LogSafe Training Evaluation: Trainee Satisfaction

6
Instructor: __________________
Date:_______________________

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

2006 LogSafe Training Evaluation

1. Which of these choices best describes your job? Circle one.

I am an employer I am an employee Other

(I’m an owner or manager of a (I work as a logger for somebody else) (I work for myself, or I work in
logging operations and have non- partnership with family members or
family members on my payroll) other owner-partners)

2. How many previous LogSafe sessions have you attended? Circle one.

None 1 to 3 4 to 6 7 to 9 10 or more
This is the only one I’ve attended one, I’ve attended four, I’ve attended seven, I’ve attended many
I’ve ever attended. two or three five, or six previous eight or nine previous sessions.
previous sessions. sessions. previous sessions.

3. Please tell us how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following
statements. Circle one choice for each statement.

I am satisfied with today’s meeting Strongly Strongly

Agree Neutral Disagree
facilities. Agree Disagree

I am satisfied with today’s training Strongly Strongly

Agree Neutral Disagree
session. Agree Disagree

I am satisfied with the knowledge of the Strongly Strongly

Agree Neutral Disagree
seminar instructors. Agree Disagree

My questions are satisfactorily answered Strongly Strongly

Agree Neutral Disagree
during the seminars. Agree Disagree

Information from LogSafe training has Strongly Strongly

Agree Neutral Disagree
been useful in my day-to-day work. Agree Disagree

My worksite is safer as a result of Strongly Strongly

Agree Neutral Disagree
attending LogSafe training sessions. Agree Disagree

More on other side! 0

 4. Which of the following training topics would you like to see offered in the future?
Check as many as you like.

… Safe use of mechanized equipment

… Work and hour restrictions for young workers
… Forest worker diseases (Lyme disease, rabies, frostbite, heat stroke, snake bites,
hearing loss, etc.)
… Fire safety, prevention and escape
… Liquid propose (LP gas) safety
… Equipment repair activities (welding, blocking and cribbing, hoists, etc.)
… Other. Please specify______________________________________________

5. In the future, to fulfill the 8 hours of required training, which of the following
options would you most prefer? Check one.

… Web-based training on a computer from your home/work

… A full-day, on-site Safety Consultation visit
… A half-day LogSafe seminar, and a half-day on-site Safety Consultation visit
… An 8-hour, on-site LogSafe training on a specific piece of equipment
… An 8-hour customized LogSafe training session for 10 or more loggers on a topic and
in a location of the group’s choice
… Other. Please specify______________________________________________

6. Do you have a computer? … Yes … No

7. Do you have access to the Internet? … Yes … No

8. Do you have suggestions for how we could make this training more relevant to
safety in your day-to-day work?

Please add any additional comments or suggestions you have:

Please leave this survey in the box by the door.

When everyone has completed the survey, your trainer will return, seal the box without
looking at it’s contents and deliver it to the Department of Labor and Industry’s Research
and Statistics unit for analysis.

Thanks for your help and Log Safe!