WHS duties
The model WHS Regulations have duties that apply to forestry work. This includes managing risks of powered mobile plant, hazardous manual tasks and falls from height.
As a PCBU, you must, so far as is reasonably practicable:
- ensure the health and safety of workers and others at your workplace
- consult with workers who carry out work for the business or undertaking and who are (or are likely to be) directly affected by a health and safety matter, and
- consult cooperate and coordinate activities with all other relevant duty holders.
Managing risks
You must, so far as is reasonably practicable, eliminate or minimise risks associated with forestry work. This involves:
- identifying hazards—find out what could go wrong and what could cause harm.
- assessing risks if necessary—understand the harm each hazard could cause, how serious the harm could be and the likelihood of it happening.
- controlling risks—implement the most effective control measures that are reasonably practicable in the circumstances.
- reviewing control measures to ensure they are working as planned.
Forestry operations hazards include:
- hazardous manual tasks
- exposure to chemicals
- falling objects
- falls from height
- the operation of plant and equipment, and
- working alone or in remote areas.
Supporting information
Model Codes of Practice
Guidance material
- Forestry operations guidance material
- Cable logging
- Plant and equipment for forestry operations
- Managing the risks of machinery in rural workplaces.
- Guide to managing risks of tree trimming and removal work