How to notify us over the holiday period.
Notifications
If someone has been seriously injured, become seriously ill, or died as a result of work – phone us on 0800 030 040 straight away. We have staff available to respond to these 24/7.
If you’re not sure what a notifiable event is, including your obligation to hold a scene, visit What events need to be notified?
Notifications made through our online form won't be monitored between 12pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and 8.30am on Monday 6 January 2025.
If you’re not sure if you need to notify us, use our online notification system and we’ll respond to you after 6 January 2025.
Health and safety concerns
If you have a health and safety concern that isn’t urgent, use our online form and we’ll respond to you after 6 January 2025.
Raise a health or safety concern
General enquiries
General enquiries made by phone or email after 12pm on Tuesday 24 December will be responded to from Monday 6 January 2025. This does not apply to notifications made by phone on 0800 030 040.
We wish you a safe and relaxing holiday.
A tree faller was injured when he was struck by a falling leader.
Circumstances
The leader was damaged and it fell, pinning the faller by the legs. The faller reached over to grab his idling chainsaw to cut himself out and accidentally activated the throttle as he dragged the chainsaw towards him.
![[image] Shows direction of falling tree and tree faller pinned beneath it with chainsaw](/assets/Industry/Forestry/tree-faller-hit-by-falling-leader-then-cut-by-own-chainsaw.png)
Investigation
The tree being felled dislodged the leader, which in turn fell on to the tree faller. He lacerated his arm with the chainsaw while trying to cut himself free.
WorkSafe New Zealand advice
Ensure that all overhead hazards created as a result of tree felling operations are identified, isolated and eliminated prior to conducting work in that area.
Published: October 2010. Updated August 2017.
While this bulletin has not been updated to reflect current work health and safety legislation (the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and regulations), it may still contain relevant information and practices to keep workers and others healthy and safe. Please read this guidance in conjunction with all relevant industry standards that apply to you as a PCBU. This guidance will be progressively reviewed and either updated, replaced with other guidance, or revoked.
Media contact details
For more information you can contact our Media Team using our media request form. Alternatively, you can:
Phone: 021 823 007 or
Email: media@worksafe.govt.nz
Last updated