WorkSafe New Zealand | A forestry subcontractor was failed by poor risk management from the two businesses above him, both of which have been sentenced for their inaction.

Misha Tremel (39) was killed while manually felling windthrown pine on behalf of Turoa Logging Limited for Pulley Contracting Limited. WorkSafe found Turoa Logging did not reassess its harvesting plan or ensure safe felling practices, and Pulley Contracting failed to audit Turoa Logging’s compliance.

Both companies were fined a combined NZ$335,680 and ordered to pay reparation for breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

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.

Data from ACC shows there have been 200,000 claims paid for people injured while working from home since early 2019.

New claims trended down from 35,896 in 2019 to 35,336 in 2021, 30,711 in 2023, and 24,309 year-to-date. Active claims peaked at almost 50,000 in 2019.

Most injuries were due to lifting and carrying (6,720 YTD), followed by loss of balance and punctures. Soft tissue injuries were most common, with fractures/dislocations (770+) and burns (~300) also reported. Injury sites included the lower back, spine, and fingers/thumbs.

Total work-from-home claims between 2019–2024 cost over $800 million. ACC lead James Whitaker noted that slips, trips, and falls are the biggest contributors to home injuries. Legal expert Jim Roberts said employers must assess and manage home-working hazards as part of their duty to ensure staff safety.

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