The Gottstein Trust awarded a stipend to David Bennett to review Forestry Contractor Certification internationally.

Independent contractors are a critical part of Australia’s forest industry.  Empowering contractors to actively manage key business risks has the potential to:

• Improve worker health and safety.

• Reduce risk of unplanned environmental impacts.

• Ensure that contractors and their staff are engaged on fair and just terms.

The key part of this project is to examine the risks and benefits associated with the formality of a certification scheme. Certification has the potential to make working in Australia’s forests a more attractive proposition and in turn ensure that forests can be managed efficiently by a safe and skilled workforce.  Attracting new workers to the forest industry is an important part of ensuring its ongoing viability. However, there is also a risk that a tick the box culture could stifle the innovation and flexibility of Australian forestry contractors.

David Bennett is the Risk and Compliance Manager for PF Olsen Australia. He specialises in the development and implementation of cost-effective systems for forest managers, contractors and timber processors, aimed at reducing risk and improving compliance. He is an experienced forester with qualifications in law. PF Olsen Australia is supporting David’s participation in this fellowship. They are a professional forest services business. Further information about PF Olsen is available here.