Mechanical harvesting reduces risks to manual fallers and breakers-out. But it creates its own risks, particularly when machines operates on steep slopes.
At the industry’s request and with funding from ACC and WorkSafe, Safetree has developed a Winch-Assisted Harvesting Best Practice Guide. The guide was published in May 2022 and sets a benchmark for winch-assisted harvesting on steep slopes.
The guide covers a wide range of topics, so is quite long. But it has been divided into chapters so people can download the parts relevant to them.
Download the entire Winch-Assisted Harvesting Best Practice Guide, including appendices.
Download Chapter 1 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting BPG, which provides an overview of the guide.
Download Chapter 2 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting BPG, which focuses on the operator.
Download Chapter 3 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting BPG, which focuses on winches.
Download Chapter 4 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting BPG, which focuses on steep-slope harvesting machines.
Download Chapter 5 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting BPG, which focuses on anchoring and repositioning.
Download Chapter 6 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting BPG, which focuses on rigging.
Download Chapter 7 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting BPG, which focuses on common operational situations.
Download Chapter 8 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting BPG, which focuses on risk assessment and management.
Download Chapter 9 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting BPG, which focuses on the steep-slope harvesting and the environment.
Download Chapter 10 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting BPG, which focuses on stability and traction.
Download Chapter 11 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting BPG, which focuses on planning winch-assisted operations.
Download Chapter 12 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting Best Practice Guide, which focuses on inspection, servicing and maintenance.
Download Chapters 1 – 7 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting Best Practice Guide, which focuses on the winch-assisted system.
Download Chapters 8 – 12 of the Winch-Assisted Harvesting Best Practice Guide, which focus on other factors important for a well-run winch assist operation.