Health and Safety

Small Scale Forestry Safety Guidelines

 

SafeTree

  • Safetree™ is your one-stop resource to find the safety information you need to do your jobs safely and without injury.
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  • Safetree™ targets information at forest owners and managers, contractors, foremen, head breaker outs, breaker outs, tree fallers, hauler and machine operators, and silviculture workers.

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Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Forest Operations (ACOP)

This Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) offers practical guidance to everyone engaged in work associated with forestry on how they can meet their obligations under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and its associated Regulations. The ACOP applies to forest operations including planning, establishment, silviculture, harvesting and transportation of log and log products.
Download: ACOP: Safety and Health in Forest Operations (PDF 1.6 MB)

Roles and responsibilities of principals and contractors

This amendment to the ACOP for Safety and Health in Forest Operations (ACOP) was developed for principals and contractors involved in forest operations, and gives advice on how they can fulfil their duties under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (the Act).
Download: Approved Code of Practice: Safety and Health in Forest Operations - Roles and Responsibilities of Principles and Contractors (PDF 711 KB)

Guidelines

Managing a safe and healthy small forest harvest
These guidelines provide owners of small forests with practical advice on managing a harvest safely and healthily.

Woodlot harvesting on farms
Many farms have small stands of planted trees (woodlots). A safe and productive harvest requires good planning and communication.

Introduction to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
March 2016

A Different Kettle of Fish: Small and medium scale forests
November 2016
This report discusses the specific issues faced in small-scale forestry and the differences between harvesting woodlots and farm forests, and large, industrial forests.

Safety during tree felling
Manual tree felling is one of the highest risk activities in forestry, and mechanised or machine-assisted felling is a safer alternative method. However, every kind of felling carries a degree of risk, and that risk should be assessed and managed.

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