Want to listen to our FICA Logger Mag updates instead of reading them? Here's how:
1. Update your settings (phones / tablets) or install this free audio reader extension (desktop / laptop):
a. iPhone: To use the built-in text-to-speech feature on your iPhone, go to:
Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content and enable "Speak Selection" or "Speak Screen" to have the iPhone read selected text or the entire screen aloud, respectively.
b. Samsung: To activate and customize the text-to-speech "Read Aloud" feature on your Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Text-to-speech output, where you can choose your preferred engine, language, speech rate, and pitch.
c. Computer: Install Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader. Then the orange megaphone icon should appear in the top right of your web browser - you can use the controls to play / stop / skip as needed.
2. The FICA page content is below. If on your iPhone, select / highlight the text and click 'speak' to listen. If you're on your computer, press the orange megaphone icon (normally in the top right of your web browser).
A better way - Contractor Profile Tom Payne, Rakau Harvesting
Nelson-based FICA member Tom Payne (Rakau Harvesting) can still vividly recall hand falling trees when he started in the industry more than 27 years ago. The boss would literally drop him off in the morning, check-in at smoko and then wouldn't see him again until knock-off.
Even back then, Tom realised this was not acceptable and there must be a better way of monitoring fallers that are working alone.
Over the years Tom has developed a number of electronic solutions to assist with this process. This included the lone worker system developed in conjunction with Nelspecs, that sounded an alarm to the faller to call in every ten minutes.
In the last three years, Tom has developed another manual faller/machine operator electronic check-in solution, that enables him to monitor fallers and multiple machines while getting rid of all the paperwork.
At this stage, the app is called ‘Forestry Monitor’ and has been developed with a local IT provider. The app runs on a tablet and can be customised to harvesting contractors’ needs.
All data collected is time-stamped and data can be exported for further analysis. For monitoring manual fallers, details such as recording tree drives, one on to one, one on to two and request for assistance and tree down can be captured easily by the touch of a screen.
Testimony to the value of the app is that contract tree faller Erik Wardrop and local contractor Willie Waldron (CWL Ltd) have been using it for a number of years.
More recently, Nathan Taylor of MCH has just purchased two tablets from Tom with the app. Nathan says “its bloody good and so simple to use - Tom is very modest about it.”
Good on you Tom – it is great to see our members continuing to innovate. If anybody is interested to enquiring about Tom’s Forestry Check In system/app, please contact Tom on 027 210 0018.
FICA working with the GDC to solve contractor problem
At the Tairawhiti contractor’s meeting 11th February Arana Kuru (A&R Logging) raised a specific issue regarding the fact that his crew had been parked up for 18 days waiting for consent to get road access, that evening FICA contacted the GDC, Arana and FICA met with a very helpful GDC staff member the next day and by Friday night the issue had been resolved and 22 loads were carted out Monday.
Arana summed the situation up well.
Morning mate, yeah great result following the meeting you set up with Council
We joined the bush road on Friday. Today we have 22 trucks turning up
Thanks again for your great effort. These are the kind of results we are looking for from Council. Have a great week.
Vocational Training Update
FICA recently met with the Minister of Vocational Training Penny Simmonds. The Minister seemed to be very aware of the unique demands required in the forest industry for on-the-job training and the significant contribution contractors make to training and pastoral care of their employers.
In collaboration with the Pan Sector Group (NZ Forest and Wood Sector Forum), FICA made a submission to the Ministry of Education on the Options for the future of Work Based Learning. In addition, FICA also made a submission with the Forest Owners Association.
FICA is looking forward to the next round of consultation so we can continue to advocate on behalf of our members.
The submissions can be accessed here.
Women in Forestry Meet in Napier
Women in Forestry recently met in Napier for a networking and workshop event, with female FICA members from both the North Island and South Island in attendance.
Dr Anna Rolleston, Co-director of the Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa New Zealand came and spoke about heart health and the impacts of stress. It was such an enlightening session and the women got so much out of the talk.
Then it was on to Black Barn Winery for lunch, followed by a beautiful wine tasting at Craggy Range. Thank you to TLC Insurance who supported this event.
FICA Board Member mentor’s young logger
FICA was recently approached by a Forest Company to source a mentor for one of their up-and-coming contractors.
One email is all it took for one of the FICA Board members to put their hand up to assist. This is not the first time it has been done.
If you are looking for help and you are either an existing FICA member or looking to join, we can assist.
The hope is that in several months’ time, we can report how this mentorship has progressed.
What’s the latest on the ACOP?
The Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) Review is a moving beast with things changing often. If you’d like to know what the latest is, scan here to read the latest updates from FICA online here.
