The new forestry ACoP and Small Forest Harvest GPG

Helps people meet their legal obligations, and focuses on improving safety practices and reducing workplace accidents.

WorkSafe has released the new Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) for forestry operations along with the Health and Safety when Managing a Small Forest Harvest Good Practice Guidelines (GPG).

This guidance outlines the responsibilities and legal expectations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) for forestry operators, and helps workers know what good looks like. It has been developed in partnership with industry representatives.

You can find links to the new ACoP and GPG and related resources below, or access the WorkSafe site here.

What’s changed?

WorkSafe summarises the key technical changes of the ACOP as below:

* The guidance has been simplified.
* ‘Must’ is used to refer to things that are legal requirements under health and safety law. Where ‘must’ isn’t used, it’s a recommended action that’s good practice. This helps businesses and workers better understand what’s needed.
* There is now a significant section on work-related health.
* There is a new section on establishment and silviculture.
* There is a new section on winch-assisted harvesting.
* The section on controlled fires and burn offs has been removed as this is better managed by Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
* There is no section on helicopter logging.

What’s staying the same

The purpose of the ACOP remains the same – it sets out how forestry operations should be carried out in a way that keeps people healthy and safe on the job.

While it isn’t health and safety law, it gives business and workers a strong direction for improving health and safety.

WorkSafe says forestry businesses still need to have their own systems and processes in place. The ACOP and GPG should continue to be used alongside other guidance from industry leaders that covers more detailed operational requirements of forestry work – for example, FISC's Best Practice Guidance. To make it seamless, this industry guidance is referenced in the ACOP.

WorkSafe has offered its thanks to the forestry sector for its input to the new guidance.

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