Standards

The following standards are referred to in Safe practice for forestry and harvesting operations (up to date at the time of publication). The standards listed are the minimum requirement. Other standards that give equal or better outcomes for safety, can also be used.

For PPE, look for the mark/stamp to check it is compliant with the relevant standard. You are not expected to obtain copies of these standards.

Topic Standard
High-visibility clothing
  • AS/NZS 4602 (Class D,D/N,N) or AS/NZS 1906 (Class 1,2,3) or
  • New Zealand Forestry Guidelines for High-Visibility Clothing
Leg protection for workers using a chainsaw
  • AS/NZS 4453.3:1997 Protective clothing for users of hand-held chainsaws, Part 3, Protective Legwear or
  • any other Standard that has the same or more stringent criteria
Protective toe caps for footwear
  • AS/NZS 2210.1:2009 Safety, protective and occupational footwear Part 1 or
  • any other Standard embodying the same or more stringent criteria
Safety helmets
  • AS/NZS 1801:1997 Occupational protective helmets or
  • ATV–NZS 8600:2002 or
  • any other Standard embodying the same or more stringent criteria such as EN 397
Hearing protectors
  • AS/NZS 1270:2002 Hearing protectors or
  • any other Standard embodying the same or more stringent criteria
Eye protection (not forestry-type mesh visors)
  • AS/NZS 1337:2010 Eye protectors for industrial applications, Amendment 1 Sept 1994: Amendment 2 Oct 1997 or
  • any other Standard embodying the same or more stringent criteria
Gloves
  • NZS 5812:1982 Industrial protective gloves Reconfirmed:1989 or
  • any other Standard embodying the same or more stringent criteria
Respiratory protective devices
  • AS/NZS 1715:2009 Selection, use and maintenance of protective respiratory devices and 1716:1994 Respiratory protective devices, Amendment 1 Feb 1996 or
  • any other Standard embodying the same or more stringent criteria
Seat belts and seat harnesses
  • ISO 6683:2005 Earth-moving machinery – Seat belts and seat belt anchorages Performance requirements and tests
  • SAEJ386: 2022 Occupant restraint system for off-road work machines
Safety harnesses, belts and lanyards used in silviculture, harvesting and seed collection
  • AS/NZS 1891.1:2007: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices – Harnesses and ancillary equipment and AS/NZS 1891.4:2009: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices – Selection, use and maintenance or
  • any other Standard embodying the same or more stringent criteria
Helmets for ATVs (for all persons operating, or riding as a passenger)
  • NZS 8600:2002 All-terrain vehicle helmets
Roll-over protective structures (ROPS)
  • ISO 8082.1:2009:Self-propelled machinery for forestry – laboratory tests and performance requirements for roll-over protective structures. Part 1
  • ISO 8082.2:2011 Self-propelled machinery for forestry – laboratory tests and performance requirements for roll-over protective structures. Part 2
  • AS/NZS 4024 (series) for machine guarding
  • AS 5327:2022 for safe access or AS/NZS 1657 for fixed platforms, walkways, stairways and ladders
Falling object protective structures (FOPS)
  • ISO 8083:2006 Machinery for forestry, falling object protective structures, laboratory tests and performance requirements
  • ISO 3449:2005 Earth-moving machinery – Falling-object protective structures – Laboratory tests and performance requirements
Operator protective structures (OPS)
  • ISO 8084:2003 Machinery for forestry, operator protective structures, laboratory tests and performance requirements
All load-bearing wire rope used in forest harvesting work should have an independent wire rope core or a wire strand core
  • BS/NZS 302: Part 5:1987 Specification for ropes for hauling purposes or
  • any other Standard embodying the same or more stringent criteria
Traction aid winches
  • ISO 19472.2:2022 Machinery for forestry – Winches – Part 2: Traction aid winches
Cranes, hoists and winches
  • AS/NZS 1418 – Cranes, hoists, and winches
Steel wire rope
  • AS 2759:2004 – Steel wire rope – Safe use, operation and maintenance
Ladders
  • AS/NZS 1892.1:1996 Portable ladders
  • any other Standard embodying the same or more stringent criteria
Petrol containers
  • AS/NZS 2906:2001 Fuel containers – Portable – Plastics and metal
  • ASTM F-852-99e1 Standard specification for portable gasoline containers for consumer use

Qualifications

Where forestry qualifications are referred to in the guidance, the following are those recognised by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority:

Forestry Skill/unit Standards – Muka Tangata(external link)