The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Forestry Commission have teamed up to offer a free health and safety awareness day in Staffordshire on 18 March 2014. The event aims to raise awareness of important health and safety issues in the forestry industry.
Trainers with experience in forestry will be offering advice in relation to the use of forestry machinery and forestry chainsaw work, directional felling including the use of hydraulic wedges and bottle jacks, hand-arm and whole body vibration, and public access issues. The scenarios, demonstrations and discussions at the event are based on situations that have led to serious incidents in the past.
As forestry remains one of Britain's most dangerous occupations, this event is a must for those in the profession.
HSE inspector Iain Sutherland said, "On the day, the focus will be on the higher risk activities that are responsible for the majority of serious injuries that people suffer in the forests, injuries that just keep happening time and time again only to different people in different locations. The Forestry Commission trainers will be demonstrating the sensible and practical precautions that should be taken and that can make a significant difference to people’s safety.
People will also be encouraged to challenge unsafe practices when they come across them, irrespective of who’s involved. Everyone in forestry has a part to play in making the industry a safer place to work and refusing to accept dangerous ways of working will help to improve the industry’s record and ensure that more people get through their working days without injury."
Two identical sessions will take place - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Places at each event are limited, so for further information or to book a place email treework.shads@hse.gsi.gov.uk by 7 March 2014.
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