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Editorial
Authors: Chris GouldingPublication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2018, Issue N.Z.J.For. 63(4) 2019, pp 2, Jan 2019
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry
Abstract: Safety continues to occupy the minds of forest managers. There were five deaths in forestry in 2018 (statistics to mid-November). Dale Ewers’ paper in the current issue of the Journal is based on his presentation at the 2018 NZIF conference in Nelson. It describes the innovative engineering his firm is carrying out, where one of the key aims is to reduce the number of serious accidents. His belief, strongly supported by this Editor, is that mechanisation which removes people from the ground, especially in felling, breaking out and skid work, will eliminate risk while increasing productivity. He describes how this reduction in injury is occurring at Moutere Logging Ltd as they have mechanised over the last decade. At the same time, logging equipment specifically designed for New Zealand conditions is increasing productivity, supporting Keith Raymond’s paper published in the November 2018 issue of the Journal.