Aug
30
30
"We may come out and start supporting those people calling for a lowering of the alcohol limit," muses David Rhodes.
Rhodes, the Forest Owners' Association chief whose members are cracking down on foresters' love of a pint, a smoke and, sometimes, something more illicit, can see both the benefits and pitfalls of such a hard-line stance.
It is driving people out of an industry that is desperately short of skilled staff, he concedes.
But it is saving lives, reducing injuries and boosting the bottom line by drastically reducing time off work.
"Even though it's going to cost them in terms of getting staff, they've just decided that we as an industry have to be totally committed to eliminating drug and alcohol injury," he says of the random testing regime.
Accident Compensation claims data released in July shows forestry recorded the lowest annual figure for claims.
[ Read the original... ]
Rhodes, the Forest Owners' Association chief whose members are cracking down on foresters' love of a pint, a smoke and, sometimes, something more illicit, can see both the benefits and pitfalls of such a hard-line stance.
It is driving people out of an industry that is desperately short of skilled staff, he concedes.
But it is saving lives, reducing injuries and boosting the bottom line by drastically reducing time off work.
"Even though it's going to cost them in terms of getting staff, they've just decided that we as an industry have to be totally committed to eliminating drug and alcohol injury," he says of the random testing regime.
Accident Compensation claims data released in July shows forestry recorded the lowest annual figure for claims.
[ Read the original... ]
Tags: NZ Herald, NZFOA, Wood Industry
