The forestry industry includes any work in connection with silviculture, logging, transportation, and solid wood processing.
What is the impact of injuries?
The forestry industry employs many thousands of people. New Zealand is one of the top 20 global suppliers of forestry products, which contributes approximately 3.2% of our Gross Domestic Profit (GDP).
Forestry workers suffered about 300 serious injuries in the 2007/2008 financial year at a cost of around $2.4 million. About 40% of the injuries were caused by simple tripping and falling incidents.
Timber processing workers suffered about 700 serious injuries in the 2007/2008 financial year at a cost of about $3.2 million. Just under half of the injuries suffered were manual handling injuries caused by handling timber.
Contact forestry@acc.co.nz for further information on the number and cost of the most common injuries in the forestry sector.
What can I do to reduce injuries?
ACC in association with the Department of Labour, NZ Forest Owners Association (NZFOA), FITEC, the Forestry Industry Contractors Assn (FICA) and the research organisation SCION, has developed comprehensive health and safety information including practical solutions to managing hazards typical in the forestry industry.
The following small business resources provide tips and information specific to safety in the forestry industry:
- ACC1305 How to manage hazards: for forestry (PDF 617K)
- ACC1306 Emergencies and incident investigation: for forestry (PDF 611K)
- ACC1307 Training and supervision: for forestry (PDF 669K)
- ACC1308 Improving workplace health and safety: for forestry (PDF 576K)
Businesses within the forestry sector may qualify for up to 10% discount off their levies by demonstrating safe working practices. See ACC Workplace Safety Discounts for further information.
WorkSafe programme
Use ACC’s key work safety programmes to establish health and safety systems and help keep your business injury-free. For further information see:
What other help is available?
We have a range of tools and resources in our Publications section to help you identify and manage hazards typical to your workplace.
Related websites
Use these external links to find more information:
New Zealand
- Forestry production and trade statistics (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry)
- Forest Industry Contractors Association
- Forestry – publications (Department of Labour)
- New Zealand Forest Owners Association
- FITEC – the industry training organisation (ITO) for the forest industries
International
- Ontario Forestry Safe Workplace Association
- Forestry, wood, pulp and paper (International Labour Organisation)
- Forestry publications (UK Health and Safety Executive)
- Logging and transportation safety (US National Timber Harvesting Transportation Safety Foundation)
Last updated: 20 April 2009