LWCC Policyholder Story

Southland Group: Safety in Forestry

Southland Group, a Louisiana timber titan, blends industry expertise with a heart for community and safety. Since 1985, its subsidiaries WD Chips, Walsh Timber, and Walsh Industries have set the standard, offering top-tier services while championing employee well-being and local support.

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Loyal to stronger communities.

Southland Group’s Louisiana Loyal commitment goes beyond business, fostering growth and well-being throughout central Louisiana.

Loyal to empowering safe workers.

Southland Group implements extensive safety measures, ensuring a secure and protected workplace for all employees.

Loyal to sustainability in forestry.

Southland Group supports and protects the local environment through actively championing sustainable forest growth, harvesting, and manufacturing in Louisiana.

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Southland Group

For decades, Southland Group has advanced Louisiana’s timber and forestry industry, uplifted local communities, and empowered its workforce through comprehensive safety initiatives and practices.

A Multi-Faceted Operation

Located in Zwolle, Louisiana, Southland Group is a timber management company and supplier for paper mills, plywood plants, and sawmills across the state. Founded by Garrett Walsh Jr. in 1985, Southland Group consists of WD Chips, which provides custom chipping, wood storage, and handling; Walsh Timber, a provider of timber management, timber harvesting, marketing, and procurement services; and Walsh Industries, a logging services leader.. Southland Groups’ subsidiaries are led by industry experts with dozens of years of experience and a shared dedication to Louisiana.

Safest 70 Star

Workplace safety is a constant at Southland Group. Each safety initiative is developed to protect the most important part of the organization: its employees. Extensive safety measures are key as workplace risks consist of everything from flying objects and heights to snakes and feral hogs. Some of the routine safety initiatives include monthly safety meetings as a team, daily safety reminders, sharing near misses, providing PPE supplies and resources like equipment checklists, defensive driving training, OSHA-required first aid and CPR training, and an automated external defibrillator (AED) at every site.

As an LWCC Safest 70 Award recipient, Southland Group has been recognized for its longstanding commitment to workplace safety.

Community-Focused

Headquartered in Sabine Parish, Southland Group is proud to impact central Louisiana, not only with quality jobs in a safe work environment, but also through community outreach and volunteerism. Their team consistently gives of their time, resources, and talent to local schools, churches, and other nonprofits across DeSoto, Vernon, Beauregard, Natchitoches, Red River, Allen, Winn, Grant, and Rapides Parishes.

A lasting impact on Louisiana

Louisiana's timber industry plays a crucial role in the state's economy, generating employment and supporting the production of lumber, paper, furniture, and various other products.

$11 Billion

The forestry industry contributes roughly $11 billion to the Louisiana economy each year.

37,012 Jobs

Over 37,000 Louisiana jobs are generated by the forestry industry.

2.5 Million Tons

Southland Group cuts and delivers nearly 2.5 million tons of forest products annually.

It’s comforting to know we have a work comp partner that is engaged, cares about our business and employees, and is focused on our state. From the safety representatives to the claims managers, the quality and responsiveness of LWCC is unmatched. The fact that a large chunk of our annual premiums are distributed as a dividend is the icing on the cake.”

Rob Salter

CFO, Southland Group

It’s comforting to know we have a work comp partner that is engaged, cares about our business and employees, and is focused on our state. From the safety representatives to the claims managers, the quality and responsiveness of LWCC is unmatched. The fact that a large chunk of our annual premiums are distributed as a dividend is the icing on the cake.”

Rob Salter

CFO, Southland Group

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