Safety benefits of a harvesting research programme

Authors: Keith Raymond
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2014, Issue N.Z.J.For. 59(3) 2014, pp 9-13, Nov 2014
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: The paper presents health and safety-related research undertaken by Future Forests Research Ltd (FFR), and provides some recommendations for further research to improve the safety outcomes of the forest industry. The forest industry has had a serious safety problem for far too long, with a long-term average annual fatality rate of five deaths per year. Steep country harvesting contributes about half of New Zealand’s total annual harvest volume and 39 per cent of forestry fatalities over the last five years. Tree felling and breaking out have been identified as the most common tasks involved in serious harm accidents and fatalities in the forest industry. The recent Independent Forestry Safety Review has consulted with forestry sector stakeholders about their views on how injuries and fatalities among workers in the industry can be dramatically reduced. It is FFR’s view that accidents leading to serious injury and death in the forest industry in New Zealand are avoidable and that the major risks of these incidents in forest harvesting can be significantly reduced. We need to change direction and the Steep Land Harvesting programme – led by FFR and part of the Primary Growth Partnership (PGP) programme of the Ministry for Primary Industries – is aimed at finding out where that direction should be. It is important for the industry to be able to access expert forestry knowledge in order to implement research-based practical measures to prevent further injuries and fatalities in the sector. The vision of the programme is ‘no worker on the slope, no hand on the chainsaw’. This vision sees lower cost steep country harvesting operations carried out in improved working conditions by a highly motivated workforce using sophisticated technology. This step change away from a reaction to poor safety performance towards prevention of accidents will be achieved through isolation of forest workers from hazards, using mechanisation, remote control and semi-automation. No worker in the hazard zone means no accident. On the ground, new technology is the key to keeping workers out of harm’s way. However, this programme is only the first step in researching the options and more needs to be done. Future opportunities for research to improve safety and health in forest operations are suggested.

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