24 The Mainline OPL & Professional Qualification OPL REVIEW Current News and Educational Opportunities for OPL Qualification September 2024 Oregon Professional Logger (OPL) administered by AOL OPL UPDATES—Latest news about OPL requirements and NEW individual qualification Complete New OPL Qualification ‘Bridge’ by End of 2024 ;To keep OPL status next year, each OPL company must employ an OPL-trained person ;‘BRIDGE’ OPL qualification expires 12/31/24, for individuals not yet completing OPL-QP ;That individual “Qualified Professional” (QP) must complete: Four new core courses, have valid first aid card, and obtain continuing education credits (CE) ;Individual qualification = employed person completes four new courses only one-time ;OPL change requires switch to individual qualification ;WHY the OPL change that began in 2023? OPL-qualified individual employed by each OPL contractor, is now required by SFI-certified mills and landowners WHAT TO DO? • ‘Bridge’ OPL Qualified Companies—No later than December 31, 2024, one employed Qualified Professional (QP) person must complete the following: a) Four new OPL core QP courses (each is one day; available online or in-person class) b) Valid first aid/CPR card c) Continuing Education (CE) 16 credits • Optional qualification: Onsite Supervisor (OS) person—Add extra field supervision. Requires: one-day OS course, plus first aid card; plus eight CE credits • Online or in-person QP and OS courses now available • OPL course registration required—Contact AOL to attend; $60 fee/person/course OPL CORE COURSES These OPL core courses are the one-time requirement for individuals seeking to complete the individual qualification for Qualified Professional (QP) and Onsite Supervisor (OS). During 2024, a total of 23 in-person OPL core courses are scheduled in all regions of the state (17 courses were offered in 2023). Additionally, online OPL core courses are NOW available on-demand (all five courses). • Register now for any OPL core course, including: four OPL-QP courses, plus the one OPL-OS course. 2023 OPL CHANGE In 2023, the OPL Standard changed to require at least one individual person qualification, employed by the company. • ‘Bridge’ OPL qualification expires 12/31/24, for individuals not yet completing OPL-QP requirements. To maintain company OPL qualification—at least one individual employed by each contract logging company must take OPL core courses, one time, for the Qualified Professional (QP) person, plus the person must every two years complete OPL-CE credits and show a valid first aid card. Optional Onsite Supervisor (OS) person qualification offers a larger OPL company the added tool to employ extra field supervision with fewer courses. OREGON PROFESSIONAL LOGGER PROGRAM (OPL) OPL is a voluntary professional standard that qualifies logging operator individuals and their employer company, in a program of continuing education about Oregon forest practices, safety, business, and sustainable forestry. OPL is the ‘Qualified Logging Professional’ training program, recognized by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) in Oregon. The OPL is administered by Associated Oregon Loggers, Inc, for loggers and forest operators working in Oregon forests. MORE OPL INFORMATION As an AOL member—when you are logged-in to the AOL website you can access many training resources: ;Member-only resources: https://oregonloggers.org/page/OnlineOPLCredits ;Email your inquiry to: opl@oregonloggers.org ;Visit AOL website (Oregon Professional Logger page): https://oregonloggers.org/page/OPL ;Or, call the AOL office for assistance: 503.364.1330
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