Helen Kelly column for NZ Logger

Thank you NZ Logger for allowing me to submit a column.  I have become an avid reader!  In summary I would say from the last six editions I have read of the magazine, that those advocating for improved safety in the industry are all saying very similar things.  It seems to me it is now time to get into the Industry Review and advocate for the changes to be made.  

The Terms of Reference for the Review have now been agreed and you can find them on the Forestry FIRST Together website. 

The Review Panel will be asked to answer a number of important questions.  I have set a selection of them out below and will make an attempt to provide some of the ideas the union has developed following intensive interactions with workers and contractors in the industry.  

There will be more and better answers to these questions then I have set out, and what we need is for everyone to use the Review process to make sure real change is achieved.  We hope contractors will encourage the workers they employ to engage in the Review process, including through the events the union will organise to collect up workers points of view.  Please feel free to contact me directly if you want to talk more about these issues.  

From the terms of reference:  

1.    How culture change initiatives can be extended throughout the industry including specific focus on the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) which perform the most dangerous work in the forest industry

Our view:  We are not so convinced there is a culture problem or that these “culture change” initiatives already in play really make a difference.  Workers we talk to say that the contracting model means the biggest problem is productivity pressure.  Contractors are being squeezed and in order to hang on to work in the industry, put pressure on workers to work too fast, for too long, in poor conditions.  Workers roll their eyes all the “rah rah” culture change breakfasts etc that they attend and say that they are nice in theory but when they get back to the bush, it is all work work work!  

2.    How employers can create an environment to enable workers, supervisors and employers to identify and effectively address issues that lead to human error and misjudgement before they impact on safety (eg., fatigue, dehydration, inadequate mental and physical conditioning, stress, production pressure, use of drugs and alcohol, etc)

Our view:  We don’t think you can have a safety system that rests on no one making a mistake and when only one error means someone gets hurt or worse.  The system has to be more robust than that because people will make mistakes.  Contractors are forced to compete over price and many tell us that they often are offered rates that make it hard to invest, plan and pay well.

We think the Forest Owners should agree to minimum across the board standards for forest workers to remove the competition between contractors over labour costs.  These standards should include proper pay rates, hours of work, travel time compensation, compensation for bad weather call offs, training provisions, shelter etc etc.  If these were in place and priced properly, all forest owners would have to meet the cost of them in the contracting process and share a bit more of the profit with the rest of the industry.  The share of profits that went to workers in the industry fell again in 2011 from a high of 70% in the late 1980’s, to 19.8%.  It continues to fall – and as it does, the work gets more dangerous.

3.    How the activities of the workplace health and safety regulator (MBIE/Worksafe) and ACC can contribute to improving safety outcomes in forestry

Our view:  We think this is a conversation that has to be had with all the parties in the room.  At the moment we think Worksafe either “panics” and makes it up (e.g. the current visiting of every contractor,  which is good but if more discussion had taken place, the visits could be much more useful), or that the conversation is dominated by Forest Owners and contractors (like we think the ACOP process was) and the worker voice is missing.  Workers actually know a hell of a lot about forestry!  

ACC are launching a big new injury prevention initiative.  We think elements of it will be useful and for the first time we have been invited to the table (although I have to say, after much of it is already designed).  Early next month, there will be an election by all NZ forestry crew of two workers to participate in the design of the programme – the first worker representative election.  Think about who would be good in this role and watch out for the process.  Watch our website for when nominations are called – who do you think would be good at putting in a workers voice?

4.    Whether and how supply chains might be better used to influence workplace health and safety outcomes (eg.,the widespread use of contractors and sub-contractors in the forest industry including contract terms, hours worked, target setting and forward planning)

Our view:  This is a biggie and the lid needs to come off how contracts are priced.  Contractors need more security of work so they can invest in machines.  They need longer lead in times to work so they can plan including the site, training of staff, logistics etc.  They need a better price that allows the safe operation of work practices and includes the cost of things like unexpected delays, bad weather, good wages etc.  This will mean workers will stay in the industry longer reducing the terrible turn over that we think is also currently impacting on safety.

5.    How workers are involved and engaged in workplace health and safety in the industry and what can be done to encourage and support employee participation in workplace health and safety management

Our view:  This is important.  We think workers in forestry need a union and lots are now joining.  Under the law workers are entitled to elect health and safety representatives and have them trained.  Trained reps can issue Hazard Notices and will have lots more powers under the new laws coming in this year.  We need to encourage worker leaders in health and safety who can argue for a better working life for those that work in it.  At the moment it is clear that workers are worried participation will cause them disadvantage and even contractors are anxious that if one of their workers get involved there could be repercussions.  The Review needs to blow the lid of this and agree a system for promoting health and safety representatives as heroes.  

6.    Review the quality and accessibility of worker education and training

Our view:  This is the most talked about issue from the workers in the union.  They are convinced the training is poor quality and rushed.  Contractors also say they want support for training from forest owners as it costs too much for each to do it themselves.  This is a big deal and workers need to talk about this in the Review.  

So these are some of the ideas we will be putting to the Review.  There are lots of other points to that the Terms of Reference seeks to answer.  This is something that gives everyone a chance to make a real change for the best.  

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