Taupo-based Volcanic Plateau Logging has become the 100th forestry contractor to be awarded Safetree Contractor Certification. The crew were presented with their certificate last week.
Volcanic Plateau Logging director Steve Yeoman says he and his eight-man crew are pleased with the achievement. “We take a lot of pride in our work. So, it’s great to have our good work practices officially recognised by the industry.”
Steve (second from the left in the photo above) has a second crew with his brother Vincent, Volcanic Plateau Harvesting, which was the 101st to become certified. The Volcanic Plateau crews work for forest owner Timberlands, which contributed to the cost of them getting certified.
Steve says the process of getting certified was pretty straightforward. “It’s quite user-friendly. We’re already pretty focused on safety because that’s just part of running a good business. But the audit was an opportunity to have an independent person look at what we are doing and confirm that it is good practice.”
Jointly funded by ACC, Worksafe and the forestry industry, Safetree is part of the Government’s commitment to reducing serious harm and fatalities in New Zealand’s workplaces by 25% by 2020.
