SafeTree

This post covers the first contractor to get Safetree Contractor Certification, advice from Canada on preventing injuries from machine roll-overs during mechanised harvesting and a free workshop in Wellington on May 7 on growing a good team culture.

Nelson contractor first to be certified

Safetree’s Fiona Ewing with the Mechanised Cable Harvesting crew. Photo: Mike MacKinven

Congratulations to Nelson’s Mechanised Cable Harvesting Ltd, the first contractor to achieve Safetree Contractor Certification. The company is run by Nathan Taylor, Hamish Matthews and Ross Wood, and contracts to Tasman Pine Forests.

To mark the occasion, Safetree Certified Contractor logos were presented to the company by the Forest Industry Safety Council (which runs Safetree).

Mechanised Cable Harvesting has one nine-man crew but is about to launch another that will work for Nelson Forests. It is a mechanised operation set up about four years ago.

Co-owner Nathan Taylor says becoming the first certified contractor was a great thing. He says the process wasn’t onerous and took less than a day and a half of this time.

Photo: FISC’s Fiona Ewing (left) with the Mechanised Cable Harvesting crew, including Nathan Taylor (second from the right).

Read the press release

See more about the Safetree Contractor Certification scheme

Canadian advice on preventing injuries from roll-overs

Following a fatality last year, Canada’s WorkSafeBC Forest Industry Advisory Group has issued advice on how to prevent injuries from roll-overs during mechanised harvesting. The Canadian worker died after a machine tipped over backwards, blocking the exit and leaving the operator no escape route when the machine caught fire.

Safetree has summarised this advice into an Alert that includes four key bits of advice:

Make sure workers have another way to get out if the cab door is blocked in a roll-over

Mobile equipment must have an alternate means of escape. This exist must not be on the same side as the cab door. It must be able to be opened from inside or out without tools.

Make sure there is immediate access to rescue equipment if the worker is trapped

Employers need to think about what equipment – like specialised cutters – might be needed to rescue a worker trapped by a roll-over. Where possible, rescue equipment should be attached to the machine for easy access. There should also be a fire extinguisher within easy reach of the rescue crew.

Put in place controls to reduce the risk of workers getting hurt

Cover roll-overs in your risk management plan, including where and when each machine can be used. Make sure mobile equipment has roll-over protection, and protection from falling trees/branches etc.

Have a plan to keep in touch with workers who work alone

This plan should include lone workers always carrying a communication device, and having a schedule of regular check-ins. If the worker fails to check in, the designated contact person should start the search procedures listed in the site’s emergency plan.

Read the full Alert

Growing our Safety Culture: free workshop – 7 May Wellington

Save the date to attend this free workshop to find out about Safetree’s new Growing our Safety Culture programme.

This safety culture programme is designed to help forestry businesses find out what’s really going on with health and safety within their teams. It also helps business owners harness the expertise in their teams to improve health and safety.

We had great feedback from the companies that helped us test the programme last year. In fact, Timberlands was so impressed with the results that it’s decided to run the programme with all its teams.

Put this event into your calendar. Details of times and venue will be sent soon.

Register your interest in attending by emailing info@safetree.nz.

See more about the Growing our Safety Culture programme.