New machine-assisted felling training videos released [NZ]

Friday 14 Aug 2026

 
A new series of machine-assisted felling training videos has been released by Wairarapa-based Farman Turkington Forestry Ltd (FTFL) in partnership with Safetree and Competenz, giving forestry workers practical guidance on carrying out this high-risk work safely.

Machine-assisted felling is typically used when a tree needs to be felled against its natural lean or where obstacles such as buildings, fences, power lines or waterways mean greater control over the tree's direction of fall is needed.

The five videos are presented by registered forestry trainer, assessor and safety auditor Jason (Jay) Hemopo of Manaia Tu Ltd, who is also a Safetree auditor. Together, they provide detailed, step-by-step guidance on planning and carrying out machine-assisted felling safely.

The series includes:
  • An Introduction to machine-assisted felling: Covering when machine-assisted felling is appropriate, site assessments, communications, felling plans, escape routes and the importance of reassessing conditions throughout the day.
  • Grapple Digger Push: Demonstrating how to use a grapple digger to assist with felling safely.
  • Grapple Digger Pull: Showing how an excavator grapple can be used to pull over a tree when pulling provides greater control.
  • Winch Pull: Covering the safe use of ground-based winch machines and cable haulers.
  • Behind the Training: Featuring FTFL managing director Guy Farman explaining the background to the project and the lessons learned.
All five videos are available on the Safetree website.

Learning from tragedy

The training resources were developed following the death of machine-assisted feller Steven Whare in January 2021. Whare was killed while working on a difficult macrocarpa shelterbelt when he was struck by a broken branch from a neighbouring tree.

Following investigations into the incident, FTFL entered into a court-approved enforceable undertaking with WorkSafe. The undertaking required the company to undertake activities aimed at raising awareness of both the incident and the risks associated with machine-assisted felling.

The company was also required to assist in improving relevant unit standards and guidance material to reflect lessons learned from the fatality. The new video series forms part of that work.

"Steve was following all the rules, but he was still killed,” Farman says. “So this incident started us looking very closely at what we were doing, how we were doing it, and we found a lot of issues, a lot of holes in the training, so we've changed a lot of our own internal processes.

"The Courts and WorkSafe gave us an enforcement undertaking, which meant that rather than just a straight-out fine, they said, look, we agree that there are some things that can be improved here in our industry, and we're going to give you two years to go away and develop new training resources, new unit standards and try to make sure this never happens again really."

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Source & image credit: Safetree



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