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Contractors for Forestry Tasmania have dramatically improved their safety records, slashing the rate of lost time injuries in the workplace by more than half over the past 12 months.
The corporation has rewarded a group of its contractors for displaying a strong culture of safety in the workplace.
Forestry Tasmania’s general manager of operations, Paul Smith, said the awards recognised harvesting contractors with the best performance based on safety inspections undertaken by the Tasmanian Skills Institute.
He said the awards made a positive example of the contractors’ operations, two based in the northern Bass District and two from Murchison in the North West.
“Everybody knows the whole forestry sector has not been experiencing the best of conditions for some time now, but we don’t believe that’s any excuse for taking short cuts as far as safety is concerned.
“That’s a view that is shared by these four exemplary operators,” Mr Smith said.
He said the injury rate for Forestry Tasmania contractors had reduced dramatically over the past 12 months with lost time injuries falling from 17.92 in 2008/09 to 7.37 in 2009/10 per million hours worked.
The four contractors to receive sets of new high visibility jackets are Bridport-based Riella Pty Ltd, T&D Contracting, from Scottsdale, Duane Beaumont Contracting, from Natone, and Radfords Logging Enterprises, of Montumana.
Mr Smith said they had all shown a long-term commitment to safety in an industry that has a history of safety issues.
“They’ve all developed and adhered to a safety management system which is subject to regular auditing.
“Their operations have not sustained any major incidents in the past number of years, underlining their safety ethos.”
Todd Hall from T&D Contracting said responsibility for his team was paramount in developing his safety management system.
“The blokes who work with us are our biggest asset, so we try to look after each other in the bush,” Mr Hall said.
“A lot of what goes into a documented system is common sense, but it’s good to write it down so nothing is left to chance.
“It takes a little bit of time, but it’s a good investment, because if something goes wrong it’s generally not a little bit but a lot of time that can be lost from production and that means lost money.”
Mr Smith said the forestry industry generally had recovered from its reputation as having one of the more dangerous workplaces.
“With heavy machinery operating in the sort of environment we work in there is always the potential for accidents.
“But Forestry Tasmania has been proactive in recent years in driving a new consciousness about safety.
“We’re happy and proud that it has flowed on to our contractors as well to the extent that we’ve just completed a financial year with record lows for lost time injuries.
“That’s also why we want to make positive examples of these contractors, who have all shown up well in safety audits over the past four years.”
END
27th July, 2010
Contact:
Tony Scott
Community Liaison Officer – Bass District
0428 393 792
