New Safety Measures Emerge After Trucker’s Fatal Accident

A tragic accident in May 2023 has prompted significant changes in forestry road safety standards in New Zealand. Greg Stevens, a 59-year-old truck driver, died when his vehicle crashed off a private logging road near Te Mata in Coromandel. His death has led to a focused initiative aimed at improving the safety of old forestry roads through advanced technology.

In response to the incident, the regulatory body WorkSafe has partnered with Forest360, the company that managed the logging road, to develop a high-tech approach for assessing the safety of these routes. A project is underway that will utilize a drone equipped with laser technology to measure the geometry of older roads. This innovative method aims to identify potential hazards before they can lead to accidents.

Investigation Reveals Safety Gaps

The investigation by WorkSafe uncovered significant deficiencies in the design, maintenance, and risk assessment of Wairotoroto Road. According to the agency, many forestry roads in New Zealand were constructed decades ago and do not meet current engineering standards. WorkSafe stated, “Many forestry roads in New Zealand are old and potentially unsafe, having been built decades ago to outdated engineering standards.”

As a result of the investigation, Forest360 has been charged with a health and safety offence. The company has agreed to an “enforceable undertaking,” committing to spend over $400,000 on improvements, which includes compensating Stevens’ widow and enhancing the safety of forestry roads.

Despite several inspections conducted by a haulage company on the road prior to the accident, no issues were identified. Just before the crash, a haulage manager confirmed that the road was safe for heavy loads. On the day of the incident, Stevens had been transporting 47 tonnes of logs when he lost control of his truck at a notorious bend known as the arrowhead corner.

Future of Forestry Road Safety

The initiative spearheaded by Forest360 is expected to create a new methodology for assessing the safety of existing forestry roads. This will involve research utilizing existing Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data or acquiring new data from a $50,000 LiDAR-equipped drone. Joe Akari, who leads the Forest Industry Safety Council, emphasized the importance of this project, stating that it could provide the sector with “additional controls around roading risks and the carriage of large trucking units.”

WorkSafe highlighted that the software developed from this project has the potential to revolutionize the way forestry roads are assessed for safety. By making state-of-the-art technology available across the industry, these initiatives could significantly reduce risks and save lives. The methodology may even extend to farm roads, further enhancing safety standards.

Forest360 has expressed deep regret over the incident and acknowledged its responsibility in the matter. Managing Director Dan Gaddum stated, “This incident has strengthened our resolve to lead improvement across the industry. Sometimes it’s less about dwelling on what went wrong, and more about doing something meaningful to stop it happening again.”

This case marks the first instance where WorkSafe accepted a commitment to an enforceable undertaking from the forestry sector, signifying a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to enhance safety standards in New Zealand’s forestry industry.