The Health and Safety at Work Amendment Bill (Government Bill 244–1) has just been released. The Bill is yet to go through its first reading in parliament and if passed it goes to a select committee where it will be open for public submissions and then back to parliament, so a bit of water to go under the bridge yet and will have to opportunity to have our say. On the face of it what is being proposed should be of benefit to Forestry contractors.
The newly released Bill aims to streamline compliance, strengthen focus on preventing serious harm, and clarify duties. Key changes include:
A new emphasis on critical risks such as tree felling, machine interactions, steep‑slope operations, falling objects, and hazardous energy.
Small PCBUs (fewer than 20 workers) must fully comply with HSW duties only for critical risks, while still managing lower‑level risks appropriately.
The 2025 Forestry ACOP gains safe‑harbour status, meaning contractors following it are deemed compliant.
Officers’ duties are clarified as governance‑level only.
Notifiable incidents are now more clearly defined.
Regulators must focus guidance, enforcement, and ACOP development on critical risks.
Harvesting contractors should update risk systems to reflect critical risk prioritisation, simplify unnecessary documentation, align fully with the ACOP, and ensure clear internal understanding of roles and obligations.
