Review calls for safety action plan

FULL HOUSE: Forestry workers and contractors were among those at yesterday's launch. PHOTOS / STEPHEN PARKER 311014SP2

A ground-breaking national review of forest workplace safety has called for sweeping changes in the industry including a "warrant of fitness" type certification for all contractors.

A comprehensive 146-page Independent Forestry Safety Review was launched yesterday at the Distinction Hotel in Rotorua to a capacity audience of forestry owners, managers and contractors.

The review has been unequivocally backed by Government, union and forestry representatives.

It is the result of a nine-month consultation by a three person review panel which heard from more than 540 forestry industry representatives, and read through 111 online submissions, as well as 330 surveys completed by forestry workers.

Among the list of recommendations made included a contractor certification scheme, similar to a warrant of fitness, proving the contractor was operating a safe workplace.

The review panel recommended setting up of a tripartite Forestry Leadership Action Group (FLAG) of government, industry and workers to oversee an industry-led health and safety action plan within three months.

The action plan will commit to develop safe work practices and safe workplaces, and increase competency skill levels among workers.

There will also be a review of the safety and health code of practice in forestry.

The panel found many in the industry wanted leadership to be able to change unsafe work practices which had become the norm.

Submissions from workers voiced concern there were gaps in safe workplace and safe work standards, inadequate training and supervision, and low numbers of workers involved in pushing for better safety.

The review has set a three-year implementation timeline with government, industry and workers co-operating to make the industry "safe, sustainable and professional" by 2017, said review panel chairman George Adams.

"2013 had been a very dark year for the industry with 10 fatalities," Mr Adams told the audience.

The number of injuries last year "was intolerable and unacceptably high," he said

"There is little doubt that change is needed and the review had set an agenda for change."

Mr Adams said it was clear from meeting families of the deceased workers that the panel "were not dealing with statistics but with real people".

The panel had seen "great" workplace safety practices in operation during their visits. "It is important that everyone in the forest industry understands health and safety is a cost of doing business, but also that improved safety and productivity go hand in hand," he said.

The review panel supported WorkSafe, which regulates workplace safety, saying companies unable to provide safe businesses should not be operating.

Rotorua forest industry representatives Wiremu and Marsella Edmonds said the review had received positive feedback.

"It is what we expected," Mrs Edmonds said.

"Changes had already begun in the industry last year when people sat up and got together with owners.

"There have been unbelievable changes since last year."

Mr Edmonds, who spoke at the launch, said the review had given the opportunity for workers to share concerns with forest owners and allow more open discussion within the industry.

Workers were now able to point out unsafe practices of fellow workers to their foreman without being regarded as a "nark", he said.

"It is a two-way relationship between the owners and the contractors."

Since 2008, 32 people have died while working in New Zealand forests, making it the most dangerous sector in which to work in New Zealand.

The injury rate is double that of other sectors and the fatality rate is 15 times the overall rate for all sectors combined, according to information from Statistics New Zealand and the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.