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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.
