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Workplace Transport and Pedestrian Safety in Timber and Forestry Industry

Workplace Transport and Pedestrian Safety
in Timber & Forestry Industries

ZoneSafe provide solutions for managing health and safety in forestry and timber applications by reducing collision-risk.

Health and Safety in Forestry – The Risks

In timber and forestry, harvesters, forwarders, skidders, loaders, and logging trucks are constantly moving, encountering various obstructions. This creates significant risk, especially where pedestrians and vehicles share space. Limited visibility from machinery’s scale, heavy loads (like logs), and operational factors generates significant blind spots and blind corners, severely compromising driver awareness. This greatly increases the potential for collisions and severe injuries.

According to RIDDOR data:

28% of deaths in agriculture, forestry and fishing industries classified as struck by moving vehicle.

This single, alarming statistic underscores just how critical effective safety measures are in high-risk environments like these. It’s why, under health and safety law, employers have a legal duty to ensure, as far as reasonably practicable, their employees’ health, safety, and welfare.

Our pedestrian detection system actively boosts situational awareness and promotes safer practices on forestry and timber sites, effectively lowering the chance of collisions between vehicles and pedestrians.

We’re proud to protect workers and health and safety in forestry and timber industries, delivering a tried-and-tested proximity warning system that promotes a ‘Zero-harm’ culture. Find out exactly what our customers say about ZoneSafe in our case study videos.

*These provisional figures will be finalised in July 2025. This allows HSE to account for any necessary adjustments or late reports that may come in.

Sector Statistics up to 2023/2024*

%

Workers Who Incurred Non Fatal Injuries

x

Higher Fatality Rate Than Average Across Industries

%

Deaths Caused by Collision With Moving Vehicle

Help your employees
to feel safe at work

Protect your
employer reputation

Improve your
safety culture

Manoeuvring Blind Spots Safely With 360° Detection

Keeping your workforce safe on busy worksites operating heavy plant machinery is no easy task. Vehicle blind spots, concealed entrances, blind corners, obstructions and unexpected behaviours all increase the risk of a pedestrian being hit by a moving vehicle.

ZoneSafe proximity warning technology enhances health and safety in forestry and timber industries. Unlike other solutions available on the market, such as an AI camera system, Zonesafe’s pedestrian detection system does not rely on line of sight, and it will detect pedestrian workers (even when they can’t be seen!) from behind trees, and stacks of logs, thanks to its clever use of RFID technology.

ZoneSafe Vehicle-to-Person Alert works by fitting an antenna to the vehicle. This creates a 360-degree detection zone around the vehicle, helping to eliminate vehicle blind spots. Pedestrian workers wear a ZoneSafe tag, which the antenna detects every time the pedestrian (and tag) enters the detection zone. Once detected, the in-cab control unit warns the driver via an audible and visual alarm, and the tag worn by the pedestrian vibrates, alerting the pedestrian to the danger of the approaching vehicle.

Multi-Fleet
Vehicle Applications for
Health and Safety in Forestry

Shovel Loaders

Shovel loaders are a significant hazard to pedestrians. Large buckets, attachments, even the shape of the vehicle creates blindspots for the driver and increases the risk of collisions.

Excavators

Excavators feature a boom arm and grab attachment at the front of the vehicle creating driver blindspots. They also rotate 360 degrees. Both increase the risk of collisions.

Forklifts

Forklifts have many different blind spots thanks to the loads they carry, distorted view from the cab and shape of the vehicle. These significantly increase the risk of collisions.

Health and Safety in Forestry
Risks from Workplace Transport

It’s essential to segregate moving vehicles and pedestrian workers on your worksite. There are many different areas and situations on a timber and forestry site where this isn’t always possible, such as any area where a vehicle reverses. Vehicle blind spots and site layout all increase the risk of accidents.

ZoneSafe works in any forestry and timber environment, including: