Forest Industry Contractors Association
John Stulen
Chief Executive

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Media Release
14th August 2013

For Immediate Release

Media Speculation after Farm Fatality uncalled for – Retraction Needed

Media reports earlier this week about a forestry worker being killed are factually incorrect and forest industry leaders are not happy about being unfairly blamed for accidents that are not part of their industry.  The media need to retract and correct their reporting if they want to maintain their reputation.

Reports on Monday that a 51-year old man who died in Southland was a forestry worker were completely false.  Accident investigators from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) have confirmed the deceased man’s occupation was freezing worker.  The accident report specified that he was assisting a farmer cutting native logs on a rural property when he was hit and killed by a machine he was standing beside.

Forest Contractors Industry Association (FICA) spokesman John Stulen says, “We think the media need to issue a retraction.  It’s tragic that a man has died while helping his mate on a farm but this is nothing to do with the forest industry.  Media people must be more professional and get the facts right in a story before they go jumping to conclusions.”

“The forest industry has many health and safety tools for our members’ professional crews but obviously farmers with their mates helping them on the farm (in this case a freezing worker) are not part of our industry, “ he added.

“Just because someone picks up a chainsaw or starts moving logs on their farm doesn’t make them a forestry worker.  Real forestry crews belong to a professional body like FICA and use only accredited, trained workers – I doubt very much whether that was the case in this unfortunate farm-based fatality.” says Mr Stulen.

ENDS

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