NZ safety gains drive drop in forestry’s injury claims

Forestry’s injury claims have fallen by around 34 percent since 2018, reflecting sustained improvements in safety performance and injury prevention across the sector.

ACC has highlighted the Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC) as a strong example of what can be achieved when an industry takes collective responsibility for injury prevention, with coordinated, long-term efforts contributing to improved safety outcomes.

FISC chief executive Joe Akari says the progress is encouraging, but there is more to do. “It’s great to know the work the sector is doing is making a real difference. But there are still challenges to face – we can’t slow down now.”

FISC chart based on ACC data – across all firm sizes
The latest ACC Injuries in New Zealand report shows that injuries cost the economy an estimated $8.7 billion in lost productivity in 2025, with more than two million claims lodged annually. Treatment and rehabilitation cost $4.4 billion, while weekly compensation accounted for a further $3.1 billion.

Within the workplace data, forestry recorded 141 injuries per 1000 workers in firms employing 100-499 people. Agriculture followed closely with 129 injuries per 1000 workers in firms employing one to five people.

FISC’s analysis of the ACC data shows 107 claims per 1000 workers across all business sizes.

Together, ACC estimates that forestry, agriculture and fishing sectors lost $245 million in productivity to injury last year, equivalent to the potential production of 2.1 million cubic metres of logs or 41,000 tonnes of milk solids. The construction sector experienced the largest productivity loss, at $422 million.

The data makes a strong commercial case for investment in risk reduction.

ACC Minister Scott Simpson says the Turnaround Plan released in January has made promising steps to reduce the strain on ACC. “Most notably, ACC has successfully re focused on rehabilitation and the long-term claims pool clients with minor injuries, who were waiting far too long for rehabilitation.”

Source: New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA)
Chart credit: The Forest Industry Safety Council (FISC)

Extra Reading: The most dangerous time in the forest

If you’re working in the forest at around 10.30am on a Tuesday in May, it might be time to sharpen your focus – especially if you’re 35 years old.

According to the latest number crunching of ACC data by FISC, that mid-morning window stands out as one of the most common times for injuries to occur. Tuesday also emerges as the riskiest day of the week overall, while 35 is the median age of an ACC claim.

Meanwhile, the lower back is the most frequently injured part of the body, while slips, trips and falls top the list of incident types. Taken together, the data paints a picture of everyday hazards –  not dramatic incidents, but the kind that can catch anyone off guard.

In positive news, there have been no forestry sector fatalities recorded in over a year. 

Regionally, the Southern North Island records the highest number of ACC claims relative to its workforce. In contrast, Northland shows the most improvement in injury numbers between 2020 and 2026.

The type of work being done also matters. As expected, in silviculture, felling while thinning for value is the most common incident requiring medical treatment. In harvesting, it’s tree-felling – no surprise, given the risks involved in manual felling.

And while some risks are immediate, others creep up over time. Hearing loss remains a significant issue, with the average deafness claim costing $13,500. It’s a costly reminder to keep those earmuffs on.

FISC chief executive Joe Akari says the statistics are a less conventional look at the ACC data, but the message behind them remains serious.

“These stats highlight how easy it is to be lulled into a false sense of security. That mid-morning period – just after morning tea – is an example of that.  Workers may be settling back into tasks, feeling more relaxed and might lose some focus.

“It’s also a reminder that fatigue doesn’t always show up when you expect it. It can be cumulative, so that a late night or a long day can still affect you days later, maybe later than we might expect.”

The message is simple. Risk doesn’t stick to one time of day, and it doesn’t always come with warning signs. Staying safe in the forest means staying switched on – all day, every day.

Source: Safetree