A true loss
THE FORESTRY INDUSTRY HAS LOST one of its most passionate safety advocates.
WorkSafe’s Forestry Lead, Grant Duffy, passed away at just 59 on 23 June 2021 after a fall.
“Grant worked relentlessly throughout his career to achieve better outcomes for workers in New Zealand, and for the last eight years his focus was on health and safety in the forest estate,” says WorkSafe Chief Executive, Phil Parkes.
“His commitment to making forestry safer was borne out of his fundamental belief that every worker has the right to go home healthy and safe at the end of every day. I have no doubt that there are many forestry workers who continue to earn their livelihoods as a direct result of Grant,” he says.
In the days before his tragic accident Grant was still calling out the risks in the sector. He had been at a Rayonier Matariki Forestry contractor day presenting on what Forest Industry Contractors Association CEO, Prue Younger, calls ‘de-risking the industry’ with a particular focus on the risks for tree-fallers.
“Contractors at the event are telling me of the very sobering overview he presented.
“Although Grant was the regulator, he ‘got it’ and he worked hard to find a balance in providing support and playing devil’s advocate. He was a deep thinker and he provoked great debates,” says Ms Younger.
Others have also paid tribute to Grant’s work, including Fiona Ewing, National Safety Director of the Forest Industry Safety Council who praised Grant for his strong advocacy of worker welfare. “His willingness to tackle things differently led to our successful co-design work on Toroawhi, learning reviews and understanding risk workshops. He was also prepared to hold the sector to account. There’s still much work to do in the sector and we should continue that work to honour Grant’s legacy.”
Mr Parkes says people, families and communities in forestry are better off because of Grant’s passion and commitment.
“What Worksafe, FISC and many others across the industry are doing today in forestry that is so different from the past is in no small way because of Grant,” he says.
Glen Mackie from the Forest Owners’ Association says Grant had a particular focus on how work is actually done rather than as imagined.
“Grant understood the challenges there are in working in forestry and had a deep appreciation of the people working in our industry. Just recently Grant was introducing a strategy he called “The Journey” – an 18-month programme to promote existing solutions, and develop entirely new thinking and methodologies.
“We were very fortunate to have such an active, forward thinker working to make forestry safer,” Mr Mackie says.