Elise Archer, Attorney-General and Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs, Guy Barnett, Minister for Resources,
Tasmania’s sustainable forestry industry has now updated its contemporary safety measures to help protect and improve the safety of those working within the sector.
The updated Forest Safety Code (Tasmania) 2021 will enhance the safety of the many Tasmanians working in forestry, and importantly, will also meet current work health and safety laws.
Minister for Workplace Safety and Consumer Affairs Elise Archer said that this was an industry-driven project and WorkSafe Tasmania had been providing advice and assistance during the course of the project which will further strengthen the State’s sustainable forestry industry.
”The revised Code has been updated, aligned with contemporary legislation and national guidance materials, and modernised to reflect current technology and industry practices.
”The Code was developed through a comprehensive process which included expert review and multiple rounds of industry consultation with forest managers, forest contractors, training providers, forest workers and their representatives,” Minister Archer said.
Minister for Resources Guy Barnett commended Private Forests Tasmania for developing and investing in this updated Code of Practice to ensure that the laws that govern workplace health and safety in Tasmania’s forest industry remain contemporary.
”Like many industries, forestry continues to adapt and implement new activities and technology to ensure best practice, and this is now reflected in the Code.
”This new Code of practice will prove practical guidance on managing health and safety risks associated with forestry work and how to achieve the standards required under the work health and safety laws,” Minister Barnett said.
The Code also covers general safety principles from working alone and forest fire-fighting to human factors such as fatigue, dehydration, fitness for work, noise and UV exposure.
The Code comes into effect on 2 March, 2022. To view the Code, visit www.worksafe.tas.gov.au/topics/laws-and-compliance/codes-of-practice/cop-folder/forest-safety-code-tasmania
