Plantation growers, processers and foresters are all part of the agriculture industry.

That’s why Tasmania’s forest industries celebrate Farm Safety Week 2022, Tasmanian Forest Products Association (TFPA) CEO Nick Steel said today.

This year’s Farm Safety Week is themed “Recipe for Averting Disaster”. It highlights some of the intangible risks and hazards that are often underlying causes of incidents and fatalities.

Today, in the middle of Farm Safety Week 2022, Australia’s forest industries have reaffirmed workplace safety as the sector’s number one priority.

“Every forest worker has the right to go to work, and to go home safe”, said Mr Steel.

“While the industry is clearly focussed on delivering continuous improvement of safety standards, we need our members of parliament to step up and protect our workers, too. We call on them to pass the Police Offences Act, which proposes increased penalties for protesters who enter active harvest areas.

“Every person has the right to be safe at work. Protesters in forestry coupes have ignored this right far and wide, with a detrimental effect on the physical and mental health of workers. The amending legislation is an important step towards ensuring their safety – but also importantly, the safety of protesters” Mr Steel concluded.

https://farmsafe.org.au/farm-safety-week-2022