Forest industry organisations in New Zealand are planning how to get back to work when restrictions on non-essential work are lifted for the industry. Organisations, representing forest growers, transport, processing and contractors have set up a working group to develop risk assessment protocols in readiness for start-up of the industry sector. Source: Timberbiz
The National Safety Director of the Forest Industry Safety Council, Fiona Ewing says the aim is to assure government that the sector will be able to comply with the epidemic management conditions of COVID-19.
“The priority and starting point is health and wellbeing,” she said.“There is the complex technical side of start-ups that will be a ‘whole of industry’ scan of the value chain. That starts in the forest and moves through transport, processing and export through to the work at the ports. The group will be working with our stakeholders to get the start-up protocol proposal right.”
Fiona Ewing says the forest industry had accepted the government decision two weeks ago that forestry was a non-essential service provider.
“However, we now have clear guidelines on MPI approved safe practices from other parts of the primary sector that we are working to adapt,” Ms Ewing said.
These protocols will provide the guidelines and will still require companies and individuals to adopt safe practices specific to their sector groups.
“Our intention is to take the start-up protocol proposal directly to decision makers in MPI and Forestry Minister Shane Jones, so that the government is fully aware of the industry led recovery plan to re-activate the industry,” she said.
Already there is also a fast-growing call from New Zealand’s international customers to provide wood-based products that are deemed essential in their own countries.
“We need to act on this now. Even though the industry shut down in two days when lock down was announced, it will take much longer to get the forestry supply chain organised and moving again and advance planning will ensure a safe and successful restart,” Ms Ewing said.
New Zealand non-food export manufacturers shut down during the COVID19 Alert level 4 face irreversible market loss if they’re unable to restart production as soon as possible, according to manufacturing industry bodies.
Metals New Zealand, the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association and Plastics New Zealand, which represent more than 700 non-food manufacturing firms, are calling on government to provide a level playing field with their food manufacturing counterparts.
“The Government is doing an extraordinary job to support New Zealand food manufacturers to continue production during Alert level 4 to support domestic needs and continue export to service essential global markets,” Jon Tanner, CEO of the Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association said.
“We need to see the same support for non-food export manufacturers, who also have essential overseas supply chains.
“Rather than blanket closure, we want government to give these businesses the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to manage infection risk. These are well-managed, significant exporting manufacturers, accustomed to managing health and safety risk.
“The viability of these exporters is rapidly diminishing with every day, every hour that their operations are shut down and they can’t deliver to essential supply chains. Their customers will very soon be forced to find alternative suppliers with major implications for their operations and ultimately New Zealand’s economic recovery.”
Tony Clifford, managing director of Pan Pac Forest Products, one of New Zealand’s largest integrated wood processing and export manufacturing businesses, employing 420 people, says market loss is the critical issue.
“Pan Pac fully supports the lockdown; it was the right thing to do. And we are very pleased with the government’s support initiatives. But as each day passes the risk to health goes down and risk to business and the economy goes up.
“Let’s do a risk assessment of the ability of manufacturers to manage the infection risk versus the risk to their business of not being able to service their essential supply chains. Businesses like ours are always managing occupational health and safety risk at a high level. Managing the risk of infectious disease is just a new dimension of that work.”
Pan Pac exports lumber to 17 countries, including the United States, Australia and Europe and exports 100% of its mechanical pulp to China and India.
“Even with the world under duress there’s demand for raw materials where processing is up and running and in countries where construction is deemed essential such as US.
“We need to be looking at a progressive restart as soon as possible based on demonstrated risk management. The longer we remain closed the more and more difficult it will be to get the economy up and running.”
