Forest Enterprise (FE) forestry workers operating in remote areas of Wales are to be equipped with satellite mobile phones costing £1,000 each.
David Jam, FE’s silvicultural fleet manager, said his team members often work alone using heavy plant machinery and chemicals in hazardous environments, on steep slopes, rough terrain and in terrible weather conditions.
Traditionally forestry workers used transistor radios but these were phased out last year. However, it was discovered that ordinary GSM mobile phones were inoperable in FE Wales’ forests. Mr Jam said: “A more dependable system was needed and trials of satellite communications commenced.”
The trials proved so successful that other FE areas are now looking at purchasing the same equipment.
