LOGGING SAFETY DEVICE

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28822, 17 February 1959, Page 17

LOGGING SAFETY DEVICE

Overseas Interest In N.Z. Invention ••The Press’" Special Service ROTORUA. February 16. A device invented in New Zealand which enables dead trees to be pushed over safely with a bulldozer may be copied by logging companies in Europe and the United States. The device consists of a heavy steel cage bolted over the top of the bulldozer to protect the driver from falling debris. It was invented by Mr N. O. Yorke, safety and training officer for the Kaingaroa fogging Co., Ltd., Murupara, ana has been in constant use by the company since last August; The company fells most of the timber used at the Kawerau pulp and paper mills. The logging superintendent, Mr J A. Symington, said that companies in the United States, Britain. Switzerland and Italy had asked for information about the device and it seemed likely the technique used in the Kaingaroa forest might be adopted in 'some of these countries. Use of the protective canopy enables a single bulldozer to clear dead timber from the forest at the rate of about H acres a day and the live tree* can be felled faster and more safely.