Under its new strategy, WorkSafe is turning some 15% of its targeted frontline activity to the forestry sector because of the high rate of harm, particularly for Maōri. Forestry had the highest fatality rate of any sector in 2024, with 16.58 deaths per 100,000 workers.
In a recent case, poor risk management from the two businesses above him, resulted in the death of a forestry contractor, says WorkSafe. Both businesses have been sentenced for their inaction.
39-year-old Misha Tremel was killed while manually felling trees on a small block at Clevedon in June 2022. The qualified tree feller had been brought in by Turoa Logging, which was harvesting 7,800 tonnes of pine on behalf of the forest managers Pulley Contracting.
The trees being manually cut by Mr Tremel were windthrown and had been bent and damaged as a result. WorkSafe strongly recommends that such trees are harvested using machines.
WorkSafe’s investigation found Turoa Logging had not properly reassessed its harvesting plan after nearby trees were cut by machinery and had not ensured safe felling practices were followed. Pulley Contracting did not do enough to identify the ongoing risks to workers and should have been auditing Turoa Logging more thoroughly.
“Businesses must manage their risks and cannot contract their way out of responsibility. Contractors on smaller sites like this are owed the same level of care as those in large-scale operations,” says WorkSafe’s area investigation manager, Paul West.
Mr Tremel was a much-loved husband and father who was originally from Ukraine. His death continues to be a shattering loss for his young family to process.
“Businesses must consult, cooperate and coordinate as part of a contracting chain. WorkSafe recommends health and safety is always built into contract management,” says Mr West.
Turoa Logging and Pulley Contracting were sentenced at Manukau District Court on 4 March 2025. Both companies were ordered to pay a combined total of $335,680 in fines and reparation.
