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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:

  • Saw Milling
  • Transportation
  • Ground Working
  • Debogging
health and safety in forestry and timber work


Other Solutions For Health & Safety in Forestry

See all Proximity Warning Solutions

Activated Signage

Implementing ZoneSafe's vehicle-activated signage provides a practical solution to enhance onsite safety. Signs only flash when the vehicle is present, warning both site users and visitors located in the area to any approaching vehicles.

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Pedestrian Access Control

Restricting site access to only your employees or anyone given a ZoneSafe tag reduces the risk of accidents. Only ZoneSafe tags open gates or barriers to a restricted area meaning they'll be detected and warned should they get too close to a moving vehicle.

Vehicle-to-Vehicle Detection

Reduce the risk of accidents between moving vehicles with ZoneSafe vehicle detection anti-collision system. Fitting any type of vehicle, the system provides two configurable warning zones, an outer pre-warning (or early warning) zone and inner (close proximity) warning zone.

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Data Management

My.ZoneSafe, is our cloud-based insight and data management platform, which records and displays event data (such as near miss occurrences) to inform Health and Safety managers of potential hazards and collision hotspots.

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Benefits of Using Proximity Warning Systems for The Timber Industry

Lower insurance costs due to fewer accidents.

Increases safety during manual logging and clearing operations.

Enhances chainsaw operations by detecting nearby workers.

Prevents collisions between logging trucks and harvesters.

Improve your health and safety in timber and forestry environments.
Find out what other specialists say about ZoneSafe

Charles Ransford, Timber Merchant

Leading UK sawmill, Charles Ransford & Son, implemented pedestrian detection systems on loading shovels.

Read full case study

“After Installing ZoneSafe, it greatly reduced the risk on-site. ZoneSafe has proven to be reassuring to the employees. It’s a sound investment and something others should look into, especially if involved in transport and logistics.”

Discuss Health and Safety in Forestry and Timber Industries

Other Projects We’ve Delivered

Virginia Hayward,
Warehousing & Logistics

Virginia Hayward has reported a dramatic reduction in the number of near misses and accidents since the implementation of ZoneSafe.

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Gray Forklift Services,
Forklift Truck Supplier

Gray Forklift Services Ltd selected ZoneSafe to manage their fleet of trucks and health and safety needs.

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SAAM Ports,
Cargo Support Services

SAAM carried out an evaluation project to find a solution to protect personnel and assets from vehicle collisions within their ports.

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Liberty Steel,
Steel Manufacturer

Liberty Steel implemented a safety and asset protection system designed to stop cranes from colliding.

See how ZoneSafe can provide a solution for you   Get in touch