“Safety systems only work when they’re grounded in reality” – that was the key message from Amy Satherley, Director of ATS Logging, while speaking on behalf of contractors at the Spotlight on Safety Event, held in Palmerston North on Tuesday 26th August.
Organised by FICA, the event brought together 150+ guests from across the industry, including forestry and haulage contractors, forest management, regulators and Government representatives. Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Hon. Brooke van Velden officially launched the new guidance for forestry including the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for Forestry and Harvesting Operations, and the Health and Safety when Managing a Small Forest Harvest Good Practice Guidelines (GPG).
As a key contributor providing practical, ‘on the ground’ feedback throughout the ACOP review process, Amy was asked by FICA to speak on behalf of contractors.
“Everyone here has the same aim which is to get all workers home safe at the end of the day. All involved in forestry need to take these changes on board and see it as a successful step for our industry, to encourage a mindset that encourages safety first,” she said.
“…A mindset of being safe and not taking the attitude of “she’ll be right” is something that has improved over the years and something everyone in the industry needs to continually ensure we do.”
“A significant amount of work has gone into the development of the new ACOP, involving not only the regulator but also extensive input from across the forest industry – including forest owners, managers, and contractors. That matters. Because safety systems only work when they’re grounded in reality — when they reflect the complexity of actual operations on the ground. And that’s what this ACOP aims to do.”
“This collaboration is a positive example of industry and government working together toward a common goal. From our perspective we found WorkSafe engaging with the contractors a very positive process for the industry… taking our feedback into account and using the knowledge of the people working on the ground to effectively review this document.”
“…The new ACOP is quite different from the previous version with more focus on PCBUS and risk assessment…It places greater emphasis on the responsibilities of PCBUs and the importance of robust risk assessment.”
“This recognises that the people best placed to manage risk are those who create it — and those who are closest to the work. But it also means we, as an industry, need to lift our capability to assess and manage those risks. It’s not just about compliance — it’s about leadership.”
“…The new ACOP will require companies including forest management and contractors to ensure they are meeting or exceeding the standards and to manage risk in the best way possible.”
“…The forest industry is supportive of the Ministers change in focus for WorkSafe, which emphasises accountability, performance improvement, and more effective engagement with high-risk sectors like forestry.”
“The forestry sector recognises that improving health and safety outcomes is not solely the role of the regulator. As an industry, we must take the lead in owning our performance, driving improvements, and embedding a culture of safety across all operations.”
“We can’t outsource responsibility for safety to the regulator. We have to lead it ourselves — on every site, in every crew, at every level of the supply chain. That means investing in training, lifting standards, mentoring each other, and calling out poor practices. It means building a culture where safety isn’t a compliance burden — it’s simply the way we work.”
“…The Forest Industry is committed to working in partnership — with the Minister, with WorkSafe, and with each other — to create safer forests, stronger businesses, and better outcomes for our people.”
