Occupational safety and health in forestry (6.6)
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| Using the correct equipment and accessories for the job is one of
the most important things in preventing accidents and damage at
work. Planting tube for planting containerised seedlings is an
ergonomical way of sparing the back. |
Forestry work is hard and dangerous. Risks can be mitigated by
developing work methods, adopting preventive measures and
mechanising the work. The recognition and monitoring of occupational
accidents and diseases helps developing better working
methods and improving safety.
In 2009, there were 740 accidents at work in forestry, 355 of
which occurred to paid employees and 385 to forest owners
working in their own forest. Accidents in the forestry have decreased
during the last 20 years. This is mainly because of the
mechanisation of harvesting, but also because of better education
and training and advances in protective equipment. There
were 1,557 accidents at work in the forest industry in 2009, two
thirds of them in the wood-products industry.
The prevention of occupational diseases and promotion of occupational
health and wellbeing at work are also taken into account
in the development of working methods and conditions.
Occupational health care and rehabilitation are used to maintain
the working capacity of the workforce.
An increasing proportion of employees in forestry are clerical
employees and work is increasingly subject to profit targets
and schedules. This has the effect of increasing the psychological
stress of work and the consequent susceptibility to disease.
The maintenance of wellbeing at work is becoming more and
more diverse.
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| Figure 6.6. Accidents at work in forestry, 1983–2009. |
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