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Worksafe says large fines given to two forestry companies serve as a stark reminder 19 July 2021
Pakiri Logging has been ordered to pay 468 thousand dollars and Ernslaw One 288 thousand over the death of a worker at a forest in Tologa Bay in 2019.
WorkSafe said both companies failed to follow protocols which could have prevented the death.
Date Time
Health and safety paramount on forestry sites
A tragic forestry fatality on the East Coast could have been avoided if industry guidance had simply been being followed, says WorkSafe.
Businesses are being reminded once again to make sure work is being done correctly, safely and to higher industry standards or risk seeing their workers injured or killed.
Two companies appeared in court on 24 March 2021 for sentencing following the incident with the sentencing decision being released on 16 July 2021. Ernslaw One Limited engaged Pakiri Logging Limited to assist with harvesting at West Ho forest in Tologa Bay.
In February 2019, a breaker out worker for Pakiri Logging Limited was struck by a log being hauled out of the valley on a skyline cable. The victim died at the scene as a result of his injuries.
WorkSafe found both parties had failed to ensure the dangerous work was being carried out safely. “Pakiri were not ensuring crew were following correct protocols while breaking out and harvesting work was taking place,” WorkSafe spokesperson Danielle Henry said. Audits put in place by Ernslaw and Pakiri from May to September 2018 highlighted issues with the way in which a particular crew for Pakiri was operating. Henry said despite the issues identified in those audits, which were available to the companies months prior to the incident, the companies failed to take appropriate action. In the sentencing decision, Pakiri Logging Limited was fined $468,000 and Ernslaw One Limited $288,000. The companies have been ordered to share in reparations to the family for a total of $238,000.