Forest Work Remains Among the Most Dangerous Activities Overall

If you are among the approximately 71% of exemplary forest owners who are active in managing their forests, you will certainly have found yourself in situations that could have endangered your health or even been fatal. Unfortunately, accident statistics in forestry still reflect the fact that logging and timber harvesting remain perilously close to the top of the list of dangerous activities. In Slovenia, where nearly half of the territory is forested and every fifth citizen is a forest owner, most accidents occur in private forests.

CONNECTING, UNITING, AND MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AMONG FOREST OWNERS COULD MITIGATE GRIM STATISTICS

Most accidents happen during tree felling, with inexperience and underestimation of dangers in forestry tasks, poor psycho-physical preparedness of workers, non-use or improper use of personal protective equipment, and the use of outdated and poorly maintained machinery being the most common causes. The demographic profile of private forest owners mirrors the general Slovenian population, with the average forest owner being older than the average Slovenian. Thus, it’s not surprising that most accidents occur among older forest owners, who overestimate their abilities and often undertake work alone.

According to data from the Forest Service, which records and studies statistical data in this field, about 266 people have died in forestry work between 1999 and 2022. A too frequent consequence of work accidents is disability, with work-related disability being the most common reason for early retirement among professional forestry workers.

WHY IS FORESTRY WORK MORE DANGEROUS FOR PRIVATE OWNERS COMPARED TO PROFESSIONALS?

As a private forest owner, you might be one of those for whom forestry has been a part of life since childhood. You may have helped your parents or even grandparents with forestry tasks as a child, absorbing their knowledge and modelling their handling of machinery. Maybe you still proudly use the machinery that your ancestors used. Or you might be among the 35% of private owners who learned forestry tasks entirely on their own, through personal experience. However, have you ever questioned whether all this is safe enough? Is there really no need to acquire additional knowledge, train for safe machinery operation, learn safer forestry procedures, and update your machinery?

While the level of safe work among professional workers is relatively high, mainly due to legislative requirements, better organisation, and increasing use of modern forestry machines and equipment, the opposite is true for non-professional foresters. The short-term trend of fatal accidents is, unfortunately, rising again. The Forest Service monitors the increase in the relative frequency of fatal accidents measured by the amount of harvested wood per deceased (m3/dead). In 2022, this figure was 297,273 m3 per death, significantly more than the previous year – 475,000 m3 per death. The most successful year was 2006 with 795,299 m3 per death, and the most tragic was 2000, with only 125,535 m3 per death.

Picture 1: Number of Fatal Accidents Among Non-Professional Workers in Forestry 1998–2022 (source: ZGS).

ZAVOD ZA GOZDOVE SLOVENIJE (FOREST SERVICE)CONDUCTS AN AVERAGE OF 35 SAFETY TRAINING COURSES ANNUALLY FOR FOREST OWNERS

In the last five years, ZGS (Zavod za gozdove Slovenije) has trained only 0.96% of active forest owners in work safety, and this percentage is declining over time. Experts believe that to improve safety in forestry, it is primarily necessary to regulate minimum competency requirements and the use of personal protective equipment for non-professional workers not covered by occupational safety and health regulations. Long-term data show that voluntary compliance with requirements is not sufficient.

At the same time, it is necessary to increase the number of training courses for safe work in forests. Courses, training, and education are an extremely important source of knowledge about forest management, but for a satisfactory reduction in the number of accidents, despite interest, they are far from sufficient.

HIGH INTEREST IN FREE TRAINING AND COURSES ON SAFE WORK

One such educational event took place on the last Saturday in November at the scenic Padež Hunting Lodge in Birčna vas near Novo mesto. You might have been present, but certainly, many foresters, other forestry workers, and interested parties attended, along with area experts and suppliers of forestry machinery – including us. With the goal of raising awareness about the importance of safe timber harvesting, Združenje za medsosedsko pomoč – Strojni krožek Novo mesto (the Neighbourhood Assistance Association – Novo mesto Machine Circle) and Zavod za gozdove OE Novo mesto KE Novo mesto (ZGS – Forest Service) prepared an extremely interesting and informative presentation of forestry machinery.

The event began with an informative lecture by Marjan Dolenšek from the Slovenian Forestry Institute, titled “Unsafe Work in the Forest”. Mr Dolenšek, with his expertise, emphasised the key role of safety in forest work and highlighted the dangers faced by foresters. This introduction gave visitors insight into the complexity and importance of careful behaviour in the forest.

SAFE USE OF MACHINERY IN FORESTRY

The goal of the presentation of forestry machinery operation on the field was to demonstrate the correct procedures and safe handling of machines in the forest. Attendees observed proper hauling of logs to the collection point using Tajfun’s hydraulic logging winch EGV 65 AHK SG with radio-remote control. Work with such a winch is much safer, as it can be operated by a single person from a safe distance.

Picture 2: Hauling Logs with Tajfun’s Hydraulic Logging Winch EGV 65 AHK SG.

Loading logs with the Tajfun hydraulic forestry crane DOT 50ZK with a reach of 8.6 m onto Tajfun’s forestry tractor trailer GAP 140.

Picture 3: Loading Logs with Tajfun’s Hydraulic Forestry Crane DOT 50ZK onto Tajfun’s Forestry Trailer GAP 140.

Hauling logs out of the crane’s reach into its range with a special and extremely useful winch built into the DOT VD 19 crane. Then Ino Brežice demonstrated the operation of its forestry mulcher FORST 225, emphasising environmentally friendly stump clearing in forests. The field demonstration of safe work also touched on safe mechanical processing of harvested timber. Event participants were introduced to Tajfun’s latest and technologically advanced firewood processor, the RCA PRO 500. This highly productive machine allows users ergonomic, efficient, and, most importantly, safe processing of logs into firewood.

Picture 4: Splitting Logs into Firewood with Tajfun’s Firewood Processor RCA PRO 500.

The entire event became an opportunity for an in-depth understanding of the operation of modern forestry machinery, with a focus on the key role of safe timber harvesting. Forest lovers, professionals, and the general public had the chance to talk to company representatives and forestry experts, exchanging experiences and opinions. Companies such as Tajfun Planina, Ino Brežice, and Agroma TS had the opportunity to demonstrate the important and comprehensive role played by our innovative and sophisticated forestry machines, which wouldn’t operate without the series of Steyr tractors (Agroma TS) used to power all the machines on display.

Picture 5: Presentation of Tajfun’s Hydraulic forestry crane LIV 130ZK.

IMPROVING SAFETY IN FOREST WORK IS ALSO AN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY

Among the main goals of institutions and institutes such as the GZS (Forest Service) and the Slovenian Forestry Institute, various associations, and others are to raise individual forest owners’ awareness of the importance of safe work in forests, assist in uniting efforts in these tasks, and provide knowledge about safe forest work practices, correct procedures, courses, and training. The goal of forestry machinery manufacturers, including Tajfun, is to develop and produce safe, useful, reliable, and efficient forestry machinery for you. However, the most valuable thing you can do for your safety is to seek knowledge, exchange experiences, train frequently, use protective equipment correctly, realistically assess your abilities, and handle machinery properly… Each individual and everyone together can direct the trend of fatal accidents in forest work towards the goal of zero deaths and serious injuries.

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