Forestry injuries
The CTU has a campaign underway calling for an inquiry into the forestry sector, due to its high accident and fatality rates. There certainly are an unacceptable number of deaths (any preventable death is of course unacceptable), but I have been unsure if there has been a sudden deterioration in the safety record in the forestry sector. So I asked ACC and MBIE for their data on forestry related deaths and injuries going back to 1990.
ACC has data back to 2002. Their data is:
- 2002 – 2,340 claims (4 fatal)
- 2003 – 2,046 (5 fatal)
- 2004 – 1,642 (1 – 3 fatal)
- 2005 – 1,543
- 2006 – 1,259 (4 fatal)
- 2007 – 1,233 (1-3 fatal)
- 2008 – 1,142 (1-3 fatal)
- 2009 – 1,229 (4 fatal)
- 2010 – 1,374 (1 – 3 fatal)
- 2011 – 1,384 (6 fatal)
- 2012 – 1,402 (1 – 3 fatal)
- 2013 – 858 for 8 months (1,287 pro-rata) (1- 3 fatal)
So the level of ACC claims in the sector is well down on a decade ago. However fair to note that it does appear to have been trending up since 2008. However 2013 may end up below 2012.
The number of claims involving a fatal injury varies, with it ranging from 0 to 6. Note that the data ACC has is based on occupations supplied, so if a truck driver was killed in a forestry accident, they would not record that as forestry sector. However MBIE does, and we’ll now look at their data:
MBIE also has data back to 2002 only. They get notifed of any accidents which involve serious harm, which is of course more seriious that just an ACC claim for minor accidents. So their data set is probably more important and useful.
- 2002 – 259 serious harm notifications (4 fatalities)
- 2003 – 214 (6)
- 2004 – 193 (6)
- 2005 – 192 (0)
- 2006 – 166 (7)
- 2007 – 174 (3)
- 2008 – 179 (4)
- 2009 – 161 (5)
- 2010 – 170 (4)
- 2011 – 182 (3)
- 2012 – 188 (6)
- 2013 – 111 (7) – pro-rata would be 167 (10)
So this also shows serious injuries are lower than a decade ago, but an upwards trend from 2009. However again 2013 may end up lower.
The level of fatalities also appears fairly consistent over the last decade, except of course the horribly high level for the first eight months of 2013.
So is an inquiry the answer? I certainly share the concern of the CTU and others that the level of serious injuries and fatalities is too high.
There is a plan for reducing deaths and injuries in the sector, that was published in August 2011. Also starting from last month the new health and safety inspectorate has started a workplace assessment programme of site visits to all 330 forestry operators. I think the pro-active approach is welcome.
It’s good that the CTU are focusing on a sector with too many accidents. I’m not persuaded an inquiry would be greatly beneficial, and I think the initiatives underway will hopefully make an impact. The level of serious injury is still below that of a decade ago (when no inquiries were being demanded) but the upwards trend is unacceptable and hopefully over the next 12 months that trend will reverse.