Meeting the Minister...and recruiting a new Chair

Joe's blog

Meeting with the Minister

It can be a bit nerve-wracking when the Minister for ACC requests a meeting, as the Hon Scott Simpson did with FISC/Safetree earlier this month. Especially as ACC is a key FISC funder.

But Acting Board Chair Grant Dodson, Certification Manager Mark Preece and I came away from this meeting feeling energised and reassured, as the Minister was clearly aligned with our direction. And it’s great to know the forestry sector is hitting the right notes as we push toward our shared goal of ‘Together Towards Zero’.

Safetree has plenty on the go right now, and the conversation with the Minister reflected that momentum. One of the biggest developments — on the brink of wider launch — is the Safetree Forest Manager Certification programme. Sitting alongside our contractor and worker certification frameworks, and led by Mark Preece, it’s designed to complement these other programmes in helping to lift consistency and safety across the industry.

The final audit process for this is currently being fine-tuned, so watch this space, as we're looking forward to sharing more about it with you soon.

Stay safe out there.

Leading forestry safety into the future: FISC seeks new chair

A pivotal leadership opportunity has arisen within New Zealand’s forestry sector. The Forest Industry Safety Council Trust is seeking a new Chair to guide the organisation as it continues its mission to eliminate fatalities and serious harm in the plantation forestry industry.

FISC was established in the wake of the 2014 Independent Forestry Safety Review, a response to a concerning pattern of serious injuries and fatalities. The review created a clear mandate for system-wide change and unified leadership, leading to the creation of FISC as a multi-party, pan-industry body. Today, FISC leads and coordinates health and safety initiatives, championing the sector’s collective ambition: “Together Towards Zero.”

This vacancy is a chance to step into a pivotal governance role at the heart of the industry’s safety efforts. The new Chair will ensure the Council remains effective in setting and implementing its strategic direction. By providing robust oversight and championing continuous improvement, the Chair will ensure FISC’s work—delivered through practical tools, standards, and certification frameworks under the Safetree brand—continues to strengthen safety culture on the ground.

The ideal candidate will be a proven leader with a strong track record in governance, preferably with experience as a Chair. They will possess a deep commitment to health and safety, ideally with good knowledge and experience within forestry or a similarly high-risk industry. Above all, FISC is looking for a collaborative and principled leader who demonstrates absolute integrity, fosters teamwork, and can take a strategic view of the role, ensuring that every discussion and decision maintains a clear focus on keeping people safe.

The location of the Chair is flexible for this approximately eight to 12-hour per month role. This is a paid position, consistent with not-for-profit governance positions. But this is more than a governance role; it is an opportunity to exert significant influence across the entire forestry sector. The Chair will work collaboratively with industry leaders, government ministries, and agencies, driving the vital work of making New Zealand’s forests safer for everyone.

Email to apply, request more information, or have a confidential conversation about the role

Get ready - daylight saving ends soon

Daylight saving winds up in the early hours of Sunday, 5 April, when clocks roll back one hour. And while it might seem like a small shift, that lost rhythm can have a real impact on fatigue levels for forestry crews.

Fatigue hits harder than most people realise - even a one hour disruption can throw out your body clock, slow your reactions, and cloud your decision making. In our line of work, that can mean missed hazards and preventable harm. And with earlier starts suddenly happening in darker morning conditions, visibility drops and risks rise.

So get ahead of the change: bank some extra sleep, ease your body into the shift, and keep a close eye on your fatigue levels over the following days. Adjust the pace where you need to. A bit of planning now keeps everyone safer when the clocks go back.

SAFETY ALERT: Yarder Stabilising Ram failure incident

FISC recently released a Safety Alert following a Yarder Stabilising Ram failure incident that resulted in serious harm to a worker. The alert highlights a critical safety concern that needs immediate attention from the industry.

The alert offers these key recommendations for TY50 and TY70 Tower Yarders:

• GUYLINE SAFETY

While Thunderbird manuals allow slackening all guylines and locking the pole before rope recovery, it is recommended to keep at least one rear guyline in place to prevent tower collapse if the stabiliser ram fails.

• STABILISING RAM SPEAR
Owners must verify the steel grade of stabiliser ram spears. It is recommended that a replacement spear should be consistent with the original mild steel composition, with good energy-absorbing ductile properties.

• LAGGED DRUMS
Rope fleeting exposes workers for 15-20 minutes. Lagging drums reduces this risk. Owners should consider replacing at least the front drum when machines undergo major servicing.

• ANNUAL INSPECTIONS
Towers must be inspected annually by CBIP-certified inspectors. Inspectors should be briefed on the Kohurau incident and the importance of spear verification and ram integrity.

Check out the full Safety Alert

Staying safe around powerlines

If you're harvesting within two tree lengths of a power line, remember: an Electrical Hazard Management Plan (EHMP) must be completed.

Working this close to powerlines significantly increases risk for forestry crews, and trees within this zone must not be felled until a suitable EHMP is in place.

This applies to all forest contractors, regardless of operation size, and should be organised well before harvesting begins.

Remember, it’s vital to proactively notify your local power network operator if harvesting is planned near powerlines. Early communication helps prevent serious incidents, and Safetree has been contacted with concerns that power companies are not being notified when harvesting occurs within the specified two-tree-length distance of their lines.

More information on staying safe around powerlines

Are you working in windthrow at the moment?

After all the severe weather events we’ve already had this year, many of you out there will be currently working with windthrow.

Remember that windthrow brings its own unique safety issues and challenges, so make sure you check out the resources on the Safetree website to help you prepare and stay safe.

Check out Safetree’s windthrow resources