WorkSafe New Zealand is again urging the forestry sector to improve safety after another worker death emerged in court.
Jake Duncan was killed when a “plug” log dislodged and hurtled 325 metres down a hill at Tangoio near Napier in June 2021. The log had been placed as a temporary bridge and unexpectedly gave way.
The pre-harvest risk assessment listed only two hazards and failed to consider the risk of the plug dislodging. Better controls should have been in place to protect workers.
Logged on Logging 2020 Limited was fined $332,187 in reparations for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Forest Management (NZ) Ltd had been sentenced earlier for unrelated failures.
