Forestry Tasmania general manager operations Nigel Foss said on Thursday that activists were putting the safety of themselves and others at risk at the North-West coupe.

‘‘Protesters are deliberately putting themselves in harm’s way by placing themselves in the immediate vicinity of heavy machinery,’’ Mr Foss said.

‘‘Even worse, in some cases, these protesters are following heavy machinery while it is operating.’’

Mr Foss said operators had limited visibility when processing and moving logs.

‘‘Forestry Tasmania fully respects the right of anyone in the community to protest, but this needs to be done in a way that is safe and does not impede lawful operations,’’ he said.

‘‘Forestry Tasmania will continue to work with our contractors and Tasmania Police to try to ensure the safety of operations on the site, but this is made extremely difficult by the reckless and dangerous actions that continue to be taken by protesters.’’

Forestry of Lapoinya Action Group spokesman Stewart Hoyt last week said protesters would attempt to stop logging machinery from working, in an effort to prevent the site being clear felled.

Several protesters have been arrested under the state’s anti-protest laws, including former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown.

The state government has said protesters’ actions in the forest had cost taxpayers more than $25,000.

Protesters say the clear-felling operation will see native and old-growth trees that survived selective logging 60 years ago destroyed forever.