A NATIONAL forestry industry leader has expressed his disappointment with recent allegations regarding safety breaches within the region’s harvesting and log haulage sector.
South East Log Haulage Association president Phillip Dohnt – who is also a director of the Australia Forest Contractors Association (AFCA) – said he was concerned regarding recent articles relating to “whistleblowers”.
The Border Watch exclusively exposed alleged safety concerns within the sector following a number of workers coming forward with a range of issues.
“Both associations I am involved in have a zero tolerance for forestry contracting businesses and their employees working outside known safety standards and legal requirements that are in place to protect us all,” Mr Dohnt said.
More recently, he said the industry had focused on fatigue and a review of risk management systems, with the assistance of competent third-party experts.
“This has resulted in significant changes being implemented, including ‘fitness for work’ assessments and systems to monitor and review work hours and fatigue,” Mr Dohnt said.
“These are just some of the improvements being made to ensure employees are safe at work and go home at the end of every day.”
His comments follow the AFCA earlier this year endorsing life saving commitments and essential training standards.
“We will be supporting our members to introduce these into their businesses over the coming months,” Mr Dohnt said.
AFCA is also in the preliminary phase of developing a contractor certification scheme.
The scheme is expected to promote best practice operations and create learning and ongoing professional development opportunities.
While it is yet to be developed, Mr Dohnt said the concept was for certified contracting businesses to be assessed on their safety compliance – among other things – and to ensure they had the right systems in place.
Importantly, he said these systems were in practice and part of day-to-day operations.
“A scheme like this will provide the industry with the confidence those they are contracting are operating at a high level and should promote ‘preferred contractors’ who are rewarded for their professionalism,” Mr Dohnt said.
“I personally object to labelling any employee who raises concerns on forestry breaches a whistleblower.
“It’s important all employees feel they can bring any issues, whether it be safety related, or otherwise, to the attention of their employer.
“If they do not feel their concerns are being heard either as an individual or collective group, there are other options, such as contacting Work Safe South Australia and I would encourage them to explore these options.
“Everyone has a right to feel safe at work and everyone has a right to go home.”
