Forestry experience can help inform the NZ H&S ReformsFriday 18 Oct 2024
We believe it would be helpful to share the lessons learnt by forestry over the last 10 years, a period when the industry has undergone a significant improvement in health and safety. It is important that the factors that have supported this improvement are not lost or weakened as a result of any reforms, but are encouraged and supported by any future health and safety regime. In 2013 forestry’s safety performance was so bad that we were killing people at a rate of one per month for that entire year. Following the 2014 Independent Forestry Review, we now find that in 2024 our safety performance has improved dramatically, with reductions in both fatalities and serious harm. But we still have significant room to improve. We have learnt a lot over the last decade that we would like to share with the government. I would also say we are still learning, and we will always have room to improve. With that in mind, here are six things that forestry’s experience over the last decade shows are essential to supporting improvements in health and safety performance. We need a burning platform to compel positive change For us, 2013 was that burning platform. The 2014 Independent Forestry Review mobilised our industry. It was a call to action that could not be ignored. We understand that the catalyst for the proposed health and safety review is that the current legislation is now almost 10 years old and there is a desire to simplify things. We question whether those reasons provide the ‘burning platform’ needed to compel positive change. A more compelling platform for change could be the recent report State of a Thriving Nation, distributed by the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum. It states that our fatality rate is twice that of Australia’s and similar to the UK’s rate from 40 years ago. The Reforms could blow on the ember of this statement to ignite a platform for change. We need leadership with a mandate to co-ordinate collective action Following the 2014 Independent Forestry Review, the Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC) was created to lead health and safety initiatives in the industry. The Council includes representatives of industry, workers, and the regulator. It is funded by industry, with government supporting specific initiatives. This model, which is still evolving, has been very effective in supporting improved health and safety in our industry and may have applications for other industries. More >> Submissions due: 31 October 2024 Source: Safetree | ||
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