The sector with the highest fatality rate in New Zealand — where planning saves lives
Forestry has the highest fatality rate of any sector in New Zealand — far above the all-industry average. The big risks are tree felling, breaking out, heavy machinery, steep terrain and isolation. Forestry is a WorkSafe priority with its own Approved Code of Practice. Safe forestry is planned forestry: the right people, the right method, and clear separation of people from danger zones.
Forestry combines enormous forces, heavy machinery and unforgiving terrain — often in remote places.
Falling trees, tensioned cables and logs under load store huge amounts of energy, and a small error can be fatal. Add steep, slippery ground, heavy mobile plant, weather and isolation, and the margin for mistakes is thin. That is why forestry has the highest fatality rate of any sector and is a WorkSafe priority, with an Approved Code of Practice that sets the good-practice baseline for forest operations.
A few high-energy hazards account for most forestry deaths.
| Hazard | What to manage |
|---|---|
| Tree felling | Competent fallers, planned escape routes, and keeping others well clear of the fall zone. |
| Breaking out & hauling | Tensioned ropes and logs under load — keep clear of the bight and danger zones. |
| Machinery | Harvesters, skidders and loaders — separate people from machines and manage blind spots. |
| Terrain & weather | Steep, slippery ground and changing conditions — plan for them and stop when unsafe. |
| Isolation | Remote crews — reliable communications and emergency response that actually works on site. |
In forestry, three things prevent most serious harm: competent people, a planned operation, and keeping people out of danger zones.
Make sure the people doing high-risk tasks are trained and competent, plan each operation including escape routes and exclusion zones, and keep everyone clear of falling trees, tensioned lines and moving machinery. Follow the forestry Approved Code of Practice, brief the crew, and have an emergency plan that works in a remote setting — including how you'd get an injured worker out. Stop work when conditions or fatigue make it unsafe.
These cover the underlying risks in detail.
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Forestry combines high-energy hazards — falling trees, tensioned lines and logs under load — with heavy machinery, steep terrain, weather and isolation. A small error can be fatal, which gives forestry the highest work-related fatality rate of any sector and makes it a WorkSafe priority.
Yes. Forestry has an Approved Code of Practice that sets out good-practice standards for forest operations. It is a key part of how WorkSafe expects forestry work to be planned and carried out.
Tree felling and breaking out (hauling logs with tensioned ropes) are among the most dangerous, because of the forces involved and the danger zones they create. Keeping people clear of fall zones and the bight of ropes is critical.
Plan reliable communications, set clear emergency procedures including how you would get an injured worker out, and make sure no one is unreachable. Isolation turns a manageable injury into a life-threatening one if help can't reach them quickly.
Yes. Given the forces involved, competent, well-trained people doing high-risk tasks is one of the most important controls. Training plus planned operations and strict separation of people from danger zones prevents most serious harm.
