Skip to content

Home > Publications > Accident Alerts > Wind-thrown tree kills forestry worker

Department of Labour logo for printing

H&S Publications

Accident Alert - Wind-thrown tree kills forestry worker

What happened

A contractor with 30 years' experience in the forestry industry was killed by a falling uprooted wind-thrown tree.

Investigation

The Department of Labour investigation found that the forestry worker had placed felling cuts into a standing tree that had an uprooted wind-thrown tree leaning against it. The tree with the felling cuts started to fall and the wind-thrown tree released and fell, striking the worker and killing him.

The forestry worker was working alone at the time.

Key contributors to this accident were:

  • poor tree assessment
  • working under a wind-thrown tree.

Diagram showing a hung tree that came loose and fell, killing a forestry worker. Click image for larger copy

Conclusion

The investigation found the worker made a critical error because he failed to identify that the tree he was felling had a windthrown tree leaning against it. This should have been done before he made his felling cuts.

Prevention

Before placing any felling cuts into a tree ensure a complete tree assessment has been carried out to identify hazards.

Ensure forestry workers working on their own have a system in place to check on their wellbeing, e.g. R/T call in and/or regular visual checks.

Issued by the Department of Labour, New Zealand
http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz

No. 18 - September 2006