Northland forestry owners and managers move against drugs and alcohol

20 November, 2008

ENTERPRISE NORTHLAND : MEDIA RELEASES 2008

Some of the biggest names in Northland forestry have joined forces to reinforce initiatives to eliminate drug and alcohol impairment from the forest workplace.

Major forest owners and managers have agreed to monitor and ensure that forestry contractors under their control screen out prospective new employees who fail drug tests.

This effectively closes the door on the possibility that a job-seeker who failed a drug test with one forestry contractor could still enter the industry by moving on to another employer with less stringent systems. It makes it clear to job-seekers that if they want to work in this industry they are expected to be drug-free at work.

To date, Hancock Forest Management (owner of the forests previously held by Carter Holt Harvey), Northland Forest Managers (1995) Ltd, PF Olsen Ltd, Matariki Forests and Cochrane & Son Logging Ltd have signed a memorandum of understanding outlining their new approach. Together, these companies account for an estimated 75 percent of the Northland forest harvest. Other companies are also being actively invited to sign.

The companies are members of the Northland Health & Safety Forestry Working Group, which has been meeting quarterly for the past 18 months in a cohesive effort to share information and reduce accidents in the Northland region. Other members of the group include representatives of ACC, the Department of Labour and forest industry training provider, FITEC.

A key strength of their co-ordinated, region-wide approach to drug and alcohol testing is peer review – the fact that the companies have agreed to share non-identifiable, statistical information on the number of new employees that have been tested, confirming that they have kept up their commitment to each other. The move is also supported by the recent introduction of a new national drug and alcohol code of practice by the New Zealand Forest Owners Association.

The initial response from forestry contractors has been supportive. Signalling that drug testing is becoming the norm, rather than the exception, is another step towards changing the culture of the industry. Some contractors have voluntarily introduced random drug testing in addition to pre-employment checks.

However, the Northland Health & Safety Forestry Working Group members recognise that labour shortages are a possible consequence until the culture in the industry improves.

Group spokesman Andy Warren said the wider issue of society's acceptance of recreational drug use was a contributing factor. “Often, the issue is that forestry workers are coming to work impaired by the residual effects of recreational drug use over the weekend.

“However, the forestry workplace is unforgiving and everyone needs to be on the top of their game.

“Our objective is to continually improve our safety performance as an industry and make our workplaces safer for individuals and their families waiting at home. This is another step in that process.

“The work sites that are under the control of the companies that have signed the memorandum of understanding will become safer and more attractive places to work, helping to get more workers with the right attitude into the industry.”

He added that drug and alcohol use was connected to reduced productivity, meaning workers earned less when they are hampered by the after-effects of drugs or alcohol.

The group's efforts have the full support of ACC, according to Don Ramsay, ACC injury prevention programme manager for forestry.

“It's clear that drug taking is a factor in some of forestry's fatal accidents and anecdotal evidence suggests it is a factor in some injuries too. For the forestry sector to achieve its goal of zero injuries, drug taking needs to be removed from the injury equation,” he said.