Latest news with #forestry
RNZ News
17 hours ago
- RNZ News
Contractor fined $70k for safety breach after forestry worker loses fingers
By Shannon Pitman, Open Justice reporter of The hauler involved in the incident which left a forestry worker seriously injured. Photo / Worksafe Photo: Supplied / Worksafe A seasoned forestry worker lost four fingers in a workplace accident, which ended a 45-year career that was marked by pride, satisfaction and no intention to retire. Now, Kohurau Contracting has been ordered to pay $150,000 and must publish an educational article about the dangers of untangling cable snarls in forestry operations. In August 2021, the worker - who has name suppression - was at a forestry site near Waipu, south of Whangārei, helping clear a cable that had not been wound correctly on to the drum. The experienced crew were packing up to relocate to another location but the tail line had over-spooled on to the drum, creating a "bird's nest" similar to which can occur on a fishing reel. At least 1200m of cable had to be pulled out in order to clear the bird's nest. The victim was guiding the rope back on to the drum using a hammer while seated beneath the tower. Another worker was operating a grapple loader to keep the cable elevated. During the operation, the stabiliser ram supporting the tower fractured, and a broken section - known as the spear - fell on to the victim, seriously injuring him. As a result, the victim was hospitalised for six weeks and had to have four fingers amputated. Kohurau was charged by WorkSafe for failing to ensure the health and safety of its workers and pleaded not guilty. A five-day judge-alone trial was held in the Dargaville District Court in November 2024, where several witnesses gave evidence including the victim and industry experts. WorkSafe's mechanical engineer, John Mains, stated that winching without guy ropes was unacceptable and the accident would not have occurred had the tower been properly secured. Kohurau's expert argued that guy ropes were unnecessary for the task and the force involved was minimal - claims Judge Peter Davey found inconsistent. The court also heard that Kohurau lacked a specific safe system for clearing birds' nests and relied heavily on the experience of its crew. Judge Davey concluded Kohurau breached its duties under the Health and Safety Act and found the company guilty of exposing workers to serious risk. This week at the Whangārei District Court the company was sentenced in the presence of its owner, Hamish John Owen. Kohurau's lawyer Daniel Robinson argued the company was insolvent and had suffered a loss of $1.3 million because of the accident. "Where do you get that from?" Judge Davey questioned before noting the company still had assets of around $400,000 and $250,000 in its bank account. Judge Davey did not accept the losses were from the accident and stated the company had been downsizing prior to the accident. Judge Davey repeatedly expressed his concern around whether reparation would be paid, to which Robinson assured him any amount ordered would be met. "My instructions sir, is we will be able to be pay but that is limited to the reparation order," Robinson responded. Robinson also submitted the absence of any industry guidelines for winding cables was a mitigating factor that should be applied to the companies' overall sentence. Judge Davey noted the significant impact the accident had on the victim. "He hasn't been able to return to work, he enjoyed the work, he had no plans of retiring," Judge Davey said. "He clearly took great pride in his work, took great satisfaction in his work and he was good at his job. "Despite what's happened to him, he nevertheless tries to stay positive." Judge Davey said the price of an emotional harm reparation order was an intuitive exercise and there was no way to put a figure on the suffering caused. "No amount of money can compensate the emotional harm that he has suffered." Judge Davey said Kohurau should have had a process in place to clear birds' nests and there was "a real risk he could have been killed". Kohurau, which has already paid the victim $10,000, was ordered to pay him a further $50,000. The company was also fined $70,000 and ordered to pay legal costs of $30,000. The court also issued a project order with two key commitments to be completed within 12 months. Kohurau must work in collaboration with the Forestry Industry Safety Council (FISC) and Forestry Industry Contractors Association (FICA) to develop guidance on winding in non-working ropes. It must also publish an article in NZ Forestry magazine highlighting the case to raise awareness and promote safer practices across the industry. "This project order is a way for Kohurau to take the lead on delivering initiatives that create genuine sector-wide improvements in forestry. We look forward to seeing the benefits that this industry-led guidance produces," WorkSafe spokesperson Mark Horgan said. * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald .
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New Report Warns U.S. Tariffs on Lumber Could Trigger Systemic Risks Across B.C.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new report by policy researcher Jerome Gessaroli for Resource Works explores how a significant downturn in British Columbia's forest sector could set off far-reaching ripple effects across the province's infrastructure, economy, and public safety systems. Titled 'Rising US Tariffs on Forest Products and the Systemic Risks Facing British Columbia,' the report looks at how sharply higher U.S. tariffs could accelerate a structural decline in BC's forest industry and expose hidden vulnerabilities in areas that depend on it, including road access, emergency response, Indigenous economic partnerships, and rural tourism. The report's findings are especially timely in light of the United States' recent decision to place tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber of 20.56%, which will intensify pressures on BC's already strained forest sector. 'Forestry in BC has long been more than just timber and mills; it quietly supports infrastructure, rural access, and emergency response in many regions,' said Gessaroli. 'If that foundation erodes, it could trigger disruptions in everything from wildfire suppression to Indigenous economic development. Our aim with this study is to help stakeholders anticipate and plan for those systemic risks.' Among the report's findings: If even 25% of BC's forestry roads go unmaintained due to reduced logging, approximately 125,000 km of backcountry access could be lost through decommissioning or disrepair, affecting remote communities, mining, pipelines, and tourism. Emergency services, including wildfire crews and ambulance access to Indigenous communities, could be impacted. Supply chains for residues used in pulp mills, wood pellets, and agriculture (e.g. livestock bedding) would face severe pressure. Road closures could reduce outdoor recreation and rural tourism, harming small businesses. Indigenous communities face dual challenges: a loss of forestry income and less access to traditional lands and services. 'The loss of forestry is not just a sectoral problem; it's a systems problem,' said Stewart Muir, CEO of Resource Works. 'Roads, services, and local economies across the province are all linked to this industry. This report shows that if policymakers don't plan ahead, we risk avoidable crises in public safety, infrastructure, and rural resilience.' The report was commissioned by Resource Works to support forward-looking dialogue on economic resilience and infrastructure planning amid trade and climate pressures. The full report is available at: About the AuthorJerome Gessaroli is a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and the Montreal Economic Institute. He leads the Sound Economic Policy Project at BCIT and is lead Canadian co-author of Financial Management: Theory and Practice. About Resource WorksResource Works is a British Columbia–based non-profit that advocates for responsible resource development as a foundation for economic prosperity and environmental stewardship. Through research, public education, and community engagement, Resource Works supports balanced solutions that benefit people, the economy, and nature. Media ContactSimon Turner, ph. (672) 833-3775simon@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBC
4 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Ontario betting big on biomass in northwestern region
Northwestern Ontario's biomass sector is getting a significant boost from the provincial government, to the tune of $6.2 million. Thunder Bay's Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE) will be receiving $5 million of the funding to go toward advancing research and development of forest based products. The announcement was made on Friday amidst heaps of lumber shavings at the Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper mill. The funding is part of the Ontario government's Forest Biomass Action Plan. "Our government's forest biomass program is developing this valuable resource through targeted investments, increasing Ontario's use of forest biomass, byproducts and related technologies," said Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan and the province's associate minister of forestry and forest products. Biomass development has received increased attention across Canada over the past few years, largely due to its potential as an alternative to non-renewable fossil fuels. "The technologies and the product development that we support feeds into automotive, chemical, housing, energy and so much more," said Scott Jackson, CRIBE's CEO, at the press conference. Jackson says the research centre is currently exploring the conversion of woody biomass into liquid fuels. CRIBE is one of eight projects receiving funding from the province. Thunder Bay's century old Pulp and Paper mill will also be receiving $87,500 towards designing upgrades to its sludge procession, fibre recovery and boiler systems, according to a press release distributed at the announcement. "We have trace amounts of lime and, you know, useful products that rather than going to a landfill we can reclaim through sludge processing and we can utilize them on farm fields and in other ways," said Bill MacPherson, CEO of Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper. He adds that for any log that is processed for lumber, roughly 15 to 20 percent of it is converted to wood chips that likely will go to the landfill. "We could turn that into pulp, useful products, along with green energy." The mill's funding builds on the $5 million dollars it received last year from the province to modernize its electrical system, namely through improving the efficiency of its green power generation infrastructure. Thunder Bay's current acting mayor Dominic Pasqualino says the forestry sector has long been a cornerstone in northwestern Ontario's regional economy, and any investments in the sector are beneficial to the region as a whole. Other companies that received funding this year include White River Forest Products in White River and Biopower in Atikokan, Ont. Four Nirst Nations in the region are also receiving funding towards biomass fuel conversion, wood storage and merchandising, and development of forestry practices. "Through this funding, our community has been able to undertake several critical studies and purchase much needed equipment for a biomass heating project," said Chief Paul Gladu, of Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek, also known as Sand Point First Nation. He says the heat provided from biomass will lower electricity costs for members of his community. Why biomass? Biomass includes wood shavings and waste, dead trees and other plant matter that can be used to generate heat, contribute to the making of more sustainable building materials, and even help develop renewable fuels. Increasingly, provinces and territories have been encouraging the use of biomass as a way to clean up their power grids. In March, Nova Scotia's government made regulatory changes to Nova Scotia Power, requiring the utility to use 160 gigawatt hours of biomass annually until 2027. Meanwhile, government officials and researchers in the Northwest Territories have been advocating for the use of biomass to help the territory ween off its reliance on diesel. Not all environmental advocates are on board with the use of biomass as a green alternative. In 2020, research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that the burning of wood contributed as much carbon emission as coal and even more than natural gas. Biomass as a fuel for the future? Biomass remains highly sought after in Europe, as researchers look for ways to convert it into reusable fuels for futher automation, and to power vehicles. "We're seeing European markets that are demanding a certain level of renewable biofuels," Jackson said. Last year, Irish renewable energy company Simply Blue announced plans for a multi-billion dollar project in Nova Scotia that would look to convert wood chips, alongside solar and wind, into jet fuel. Meanwhile, Canadian renewable fuel manufactuers SustainAgro Ltd. announced plans in 2023 to open a facility in Prince Edward Island to convert biomass into renewable diesel.
ABC News
6 days ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Türkiye wildfire kills 10 firefighters and rescue crew
Five forestry workers and five members of the AKUT Search and Rescue Association have died while trying to put out a wildfire in north-western Türkiye. At least 14 other rescuers and forestry workers were hospitalised for injuries as the wildfire raged through a forested area of Eskisehir province, Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said. He said the wind suddenly changed direction, causing the flames to shift rapidly and surround the forest workers. It was not immediately clear what caused the fire. Mr Yumakli said firefighters were currently battling seven wildfires in the country, including the one in Eskisehir, adding that extreme heat and volatile wind conditions also were expected in Türkiye on Thursday, local time. "Starting tomorrow, we are facing extraordinary temperatures and extreme wind shifts. Once again, I call on all 86 million citizens to be vigilant and exercise extra caution," Mr Yumakli said. Two prosecutors were assigned to investigate the incident, the country's justice minister said. Türkiye has been battling wildfires since June 26. The deaths bring this year's wildfire death toll in the country to 13, amid strong winds, high temperatures, and dry conditions. An elderly man and two forestry workers were killed in a wildfire that raged near the town of Odemis, in Izmir province, earlier this month. In a message of condolence to the families, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the victims had fought "to protect our forests at cost of their lives". AP
BBC News
6 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Ten workers killed battling wildfires in Turkey
At least 10 forestry and rescue workers have been killed while battling wildfires in Turkey's central Eskisehir 24 forest workers and volunteer rescue personnel were left "trapped inside the fire" following a change in the direction of the wind, Turkey's Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli said in a post on X. Five forestry workers and five volunteers from the AKUT rescue organisation lost their lives and 14 forest workers were taken to hospital, he blaze in the Seyitgazi district of the province began on Tuesday morning and started spreading towards nearby areas, local media said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared his condolences on X. "I pray for God's mercy on our brothers and sisters who fought at the cost of their lives to protect our forests, and I offer my condolences to their families and our nation," he Nebi Hatipoglu, the constituency's lawmaker said the community was "experiencing deep grief" over the loss of the "heroic forest workers who were martyred while fighting the flames". Temperatures across the country have surpassed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in recent days and fires are currently burning across five areas - Sakarya, Bilecik, Eskisehir, İzmir, Karabuk and Manisa. Hundreds of wildfires have broken out across Turkey this summer, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their Search and Rescue Association is a non-governmental organisation for disaster search and rescue relief.
