Planter Health and safety information
We are also sending you our usual notes on Planter Health and Safety. Dr. Delia Roberts has summarized all her findings and produced some pamphlets, videos and posters to get her message out to the tree planting workforce.
All her info can be viewed and downloaded at her web site.
The material that you will see there includes:
- Fit to Plant Video – also shows some tendon strengthening exercises (tendonitis prevention)
- Fitness Training Log
- Top Ten Tips For Tree Planters (Booklet)
- Power Eating for Power Planting – really important for those cooking for themselves in Motels
Remember Dr. Robert’s study showed a 12-15% increase in production and a 40% decrease in injury and infection rates for those who get fit before the season starts. There were also significant increases in production for those who ate correctly.
A&G is requiring all it’s planters to visit the website and study the info presented there. At the pre-work you will be expected to know the program and to have tried it. For those on the Princeton crew Dr. Delia will be visiting our camp in May for feedback on her ideas. If you have your own fitness program see how it compares with hers.
We have summarized some of her key findings:
Pre-Season Fitness
- Results in increased production (10-15%).
- Decreased fatigue (production was more consistent throughout the day and through the season).
- Decreased injury and infection rates (42%).
Ferritin Levels
- A significant number of planters had low levels of storage iron (Ferritin).
- Everyone should have their Ferritin levels checked at least 8 weeks before planting.
- Iron levels should above 30ug/l – if not you need an iron supplement.
Hypoglycemia
- Blood sugar levels need to be stabilised during the day.
- Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar reduces motor and cognitive performance resulting in lower productivity, lower quality and more susceptibility to injury.
- Ways to accomplish this include; Eating small amounts of highly digestible snacks every hour
- Carry pocket snacks and candy with you.
- Need to consume a large carbohydrate snack within 1-2 hrs of cessation of planting.
Diet/Hydration
- Planters need to be educated on the influence of adequate food and fluid intake on production and the risk of injury/infection.
- Planters should drink 500mls of fluid per hour.
- A homemade gatorade drink that adds small amounts of salts and sugar to the fluid is better than straight water as it facilitates hydration.
- The ideal planter diet should contain 60-70% carbohydrate, 15-20% protein and and 20% fat. (Studies showed that planters were eating too much fat: 35%.)
Lifestyle
- Planters need to educate themselves on the physiological cost of lack of sleep and excessive use of alcohol and other substances.
Things you need do before the season
- Get Fit – visit Dr Robert's web site and look at the Fit to Plant Video, and decide to use this program or parts of it tp supplement your own pre-season fitness program.
- If you are prone to Tendonitis pay particular attention to the thera band, twisting bar and hacky sack drills.
- Get a Ferritin test from your GP. You will need to ask your GP for this test and insist. Tree planting requires a higher blood iron count than sedentary work. If yours is below 30ug/l then contact Dr. Roberts for her advice. You need to start taking iron supplements at least 8 weeks before you start planting.
- Menu Planning – use the dietary info from Power Eating for Power Planting to plan your meals (motel), and to plan your lunches etc (camp).
- Hydration – have enough water containers to carry 4 litres /day. A CamelBak sack in your back bag works well when planting, but you will need extra containers to refill it.
- Homemade Gatorade Recipe: 1 litre of water, ½ tsp of salt, up to ¼ cup of sugar, ¼ tsp of Potassium Chloride.
Finally, if you have any questions about this call us or email Dr Roberts directly at droberts@selkirk.bc.ca.
Read more about our commitment to safety on the page About A&G.
