FOREST SAFETY GUIDANCE LEAFLET 4
AVOIDING INJURIES WHEN
PLANTING AND RELEASING
Planting and release operations accounted for 20% of all silvicultural Accident Reporting
Scheme reports and over 30% of reported lost days, in 2002. A total of 182 days were lost,
and an additional 57 minor injuries were reported.
Planting and release operations are physically demanding, so workers are faced with challenges
of adequate hydration and nutrition along with physical fatigue and numerous hazards.
Eye or head injuries,
including stings and
bruising from falls
Arm & shoulder
injuries, including
a dislocated
shoulder. Hand,
finger & wrist
injuries, mostly
slipping and
landing on
outstretched
hand
Upper torso,
including two
fractures, one
serious from
an ATV
accident
Knee, ankle & leg injuries,
largely sprains and strains
from slips and falls
Spray and manual releasing
injuries
Arm, hand &
fingers including
falls, stings and
overuse strains
Head/eye usually
‘struck by’ sticks or
branches
Lower torso,
from slipping
over and from
manual handling
or overexertion
Ankle and knee
injuries, all from
slipping
Planting injuries
The main hazards associated with planting & release operations are:
♦ Twisted postures and bending/stooping for long periods of time
♦ Jarring and jolting of joints, & acceleration forces
♦ Repetitive movements & manual handling
♦ Rough & steep terrain, slash, heavy undergrowth and uneven ground
♦ Chemicals
♦ Hazards associated with equipment such as spray packs, planting boxes, slashers
♦ Exposure to extreme weather conditions
♦ Fatigue due to dehydration and physically demanding work
FOREST SAFETY GUIDANCE LEAFLET 4
PLANTING safely relies on good equipment and techniques:
Use well padded, properly adjusted
frames
Maintain all equipment and ensure the
cutting edge of the spade is sharp
Wear sturdy safety boots and hi-vis
vest or shirt
Wear clothes that protect you from
the sun or the cold.
Distribute the load as evenly as possible and do not overload the planting frame
Maintain a balanced posture, keep your arms and wrists loose on the shovel when impact occurs
Select the planting spot carefully to avoid stones where possible
Avoid jarring wrists & arms by pressing the spade in with your boot - use your body weight to
help make the hole
Avoid gripping the spade hard, especially in cold weather - wear gloves
Avoid stooping - use your knees and hips to bend. Have the seedling ready to plant before bending
down, to reduce the total time in a bent position
If on steep slopes, do not work directly above another worker, and avoid knocking debris
Never bend and twist at the same time
When screefing - removing vegetation/cover with your boot - use frequent, shallow forward and
backward movements. Avoid moving your legs side to side which can strain your knees.
AVOIDING INJURIES
Report any symptoms or injuries. Precondition your body at the beginning of the season for
example by running or cycling to get fitter and warm up in the morning as you get used to using
different muscles. Pace yourself during the first couple of weeks by working more slowly.
Stretch your back and shoulders from time to time and rest during smokos. Avoid twisting and
bending. Do not get up quickly from any bent posture. Use techniques and postures that reduce
the strain on your body.
AVOIDING FATIGUE
Drink water or diluted cordials before work & regularly during working hours. Drink more when
it is very hot or if you have been working hard and sweating a lot. Limit your intake of sugary
drinks (over 8% sugar, most fizzy drinks) or dilute them.
"Allow" resting during the work period, alter breaks to suit crews, site conditions and location if the crew is travelling for long periods, make sure workers get sufficient rest - this should be
more than one 30 minute break per day.
Eat a good breakfast, snack on fresh or dried fruit, muesli bars or a sandwich, eat good food at
smoko like pasta or filled rolls and fruit. Eat well after work.
FOREST SAFETY GUIDANCE LEAFLET 4
TREE RELEASING safely relies on good equipment and techniques:
All equipment, especially mechanical or sharp, must be
regularly maintained and checked.
When spraying, wear
- waterproof safety boots, overalls, water-proof
leggings and boots (& when mixing chemicals, wear
safety eye wear, hat, face mask/ respirator - check
instructions)
If using slasher, brush-cutter or chainsaw, wear
- safety glasses, protective leg wear, hi-vis helmet &
vest
- good safety boots providing ankle support
Use a stable posture, avoid stooping and twisting
Maintain a steady balance, especially when carrying backpack or other equipment.
Take care of footing over rough terrain & do not rush
In cold weather, wear gloves & change your grip frequently to rest muscles
Wash hands after using chemicals before eating and drinking
Sharpen blades away from you
Keep at a safe distance from others when using a slasher, spade or mattock blade
Work uphill or across the slope when slashing or brush-cutting to help from overbalancing
When using a brush-cutter, use the left hand side of the blade to pull the brush-cutter away
from the operator
When working on steep terrain, carry tools like
slashers & spades carefully so they can be
thrown clear if necessary if you slip or fall
Seek medical attention as soon as possible if
poisoning suspected after use of chemicals.
Do not spray in strong winds
The Big Picture
Having a healthy crew is good business. Management commitment towards worker health can go a
long way towards helping reduce the risk of injury and illness.
Planning
- Provide crews with a mix of clean and rough blocks to vary worker conditions
- Ensure pre-packed planting frames are not overloaded
- Ensure all crews have fully equipped first aid kits
- Identify areas for diluting, mixing & filling with chemicals, and for smokos
- Work downhill and do not overfill packs for shorter runs
Supervising
- Adjust working hours according to terrain, travel and weather conditions
- Encourage safe work practices, including drinking and eating appropriately
and pacing work rates according to fitness and experience, and time of season
- Ensure equipment and PPE is adequate, regularly checked and well maintained
- Act early when employees report symptoms, to prevent condition worsening
Training/education - Make sure employees know about the hazards specific to the planting, release
and use of chemicals, e.g. operators attend Growsafe or similar course
Reviewing
- Have regular safety meetings, listen to staff suggestions, and work as a
team
- Aim for continuous improvement and give positive feedback
FOREST SAFETY GUIDANCE LEAFLET 4
Case Study
The Problem
A crew that was new to planting was complaining of aches and pains in their arms, wrists, necks
and backs. The contractor also noticed that their work was not up to scratch, with difficulties
in quality and stocking. The same crew reported sore backs and shoulders when spraying on
steep terrain.
The Issues
The workers complained of soreness in muscles they hadn’t been using when they were pruning.
Their planting frames felt too heavy at times. The quality of their work was not up to standard
and their lines often drifted. When spraying, they were often still carrying chemical in their
packs when they had finished the block.
What to do?
When planting, the contractor encouraged the workers to start the day by stretching and
warming up, and to not push too hard for the first couple of weeks of planting. The crew were
given poles which they used to line up the rows and the crew all wore high-vis vests so if their
line was drifting the crew boss could then see them more easily. It also made it easier to avoid
knocking debris towards workers down the slope. Some crew members wore a wrist support for
the start up period to help reduce the jarring. The contractor talked to them about wearing
gloves in cold weather, to reduce muscle fatigue around their wrists. They started to take more
notice of their posture - by trying to avoid stooping and by avoiding repetitive twisting of their
wrists and hands. The contractor checked that they were not supplied with overloaded planting
frames. When spraying, they started at the top of sloped blocks. Where the road access was
good, they half filled only and then refilled half way down the slope.
The results
The crew were impressed with the exercises and felt fitter over the next few weeks. Because
they felt more comfortable, they paid more attention to their lines, and the poles and hi-vis
vests worked well as guides. Refilling spray packs more frequently took a little more time but
the workers were carrying less weight and were much fresher and quicker. There was also less
wastage of chemical. The contractor was pleased that efficiency, quality and health and safety
had all improved in both operations.
Further Information
This Guidance Leaflet has been prepared by the “ACC Safer Industries Working Group” which consists of representatives
from ACC, COHFE, Forest Industry Contractors Association and Forest Industries Training. This leaflet contains
notes on good practice which are not compulsory but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do.
It is a reference tool for supervisors/foremen to help them ensure that safe working practices are being carried out
at their forestry work sites.
This publication may be freely reproduced except for advertising, endorsement or commercial purposes. The information
is current May 2003. Please acknowledge the source as being an “ACC Safer Industries Working Group” Forest Safety
Guidance Leaflet.
For more information about forest safety, contact:
Phone: 04 918 7700
Fax: 04 918 7701
www.acc.co.nz
Phone: 07 343 5899
Fax: 07 343 5528
www.cohfe.co.nz
Phone: 07 921 1382
Fax:07 921 1833
www.fica.org.nz
Phone: 07348 7250
Fax:07 348 7350
www.training.org.nz