Tree felling and forest harvesting

Published: 1 November 2012
Last Updated: 1 November 2012

Purpose
Background
Contributing factors
Action required
Further information

Purpose

The purpose of this safety alert is to highlight the risks associated with tree felling.

Background

A self-employed timber cutter died on a property near Calliope from head injuries sustained after a branch fell on him.

Contributing factors

The timber cutter was working alone on a private property felling hardwood trees.

In the process of felling a tree, the falling tree had weakened a branch on a neighbouring tree. While the timber feller was cutting up the felled tree, the weakened branch fell on him. He was not wearing a hard hat, ear muffs or gloves.

He was not found until the alarm was raised when he did not return from work that evening.

Action required

The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (PDF, 1.43 MB) imposes health and safety obligations on a person(s) conducting a business or undertaking, whether as an employer, self-employed person, designer, manufacturer, supplier or owner of plant.

Before commencing forest harvesting or felling timber, the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must assess the conditions likely to affect the health and safety of people employed to carry out the work and themselves, and arrange for the provision and use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Dependent on the task, equipment and conditions in the forest, the PPE may include safety helmets, leg protection, safety gloves, protective footwear and eye protection.

The Forest Harvest Code of Practice 2007 provides advice and guidance to achieve worker health and safety required by legislation.

In addition, when working remotely or in isolation, PCBUs and workers need to ensure there is an effective system of communication for remote or isolated work. Section 48 of the Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 requires a PCBU to manage risks to the health and safety of a worker associated with remote or isolated work. Workers should notify someone about where they are going and what time they are expecting to return.

Further information

Further information may be obtained from the following codes:

Visit www.worksafe.qld.gov.au or call the WHS Infoline on 1300 369 915.