Health and Safety

It is the responsibility of every owner to make their forest a safe and healthy place to work.

In this section:

• Introduction
• Code of Practice for managing safety and health in forestry operations 
• Know your role 
• Health and Safety check list for forestry operations 
• Operating a chainsaw safely 
• Relevant publications 

Introduction

The Health and Safety and Welfare at work Act 2005 is a legal requirement.

When planning and carrying out forestry operations, the law requires that a number of health and safety duties must be completed.

A Safety Statement is a written document aimed at minimising exposure to risk or injury or ill-health for all people working in the forest:

• If the landowner is undertaking the work or is directing the work then s/he needs to prepare a Safety Statement.
• If the work is undertaken by a Forestry Works Manager then s/he prepares the Safety Statement and sets out in writing the health and safety measures taken to protect workers.
• In turn, all workers must abide by these measures.

The Safety Statement should:

• Include a written risk assessment
• Point to safe working procedures
• Establish that operators are competent and qualified for their tasks
• Have the necessary tools/machinery for the task
• Provide procedures to supervise and monitor the work
• Emphasise the need for suitable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Protect public health and safety 

Relevant publications:

• Farm Forestry Series 22: Forestry Health & Safety (PDF) 
• HSA Code of Practice for Managing Safety and Health in Forestry Operations (PDF) 
• HSA Guide to H&S responsibilities of forest owners who fell trees (PDF) 
• Health & Safety Guidance for Forestry Work Manager in selecting and monitoring contractors (PDF) 
• Electricity at Work: Forestry (PDF) 
• Mechanical Harvesting (PDF) 
• Extraction by Forwarder (PDF)