Forestry health and safety rules

Working in forestry, especially with forestry machinery, involves many hazards that must be properly identified and controlled. Safety in this industry is regulated by a number of occupational health and safety regulations, which impose obligations on employers and employees to ensure proper working conditions and compliance with safety standards.

General principles of occupational safety and health in forestry – Labor Code

The rules of occupational safety, including in forestry, are set forth in the Labor Code (Journal of Laws 1974 No. 24, item 141, as amended). Based on it, employers are obliged to:

• Provide safe working conditions, including appropriate tools and equipment.
• Organize health and safety training for employees, especially those operating machinery.
• Protect the health of employees, which includes the obligation to provide appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

The Labor Code also establishes general rules for cooperation between the employer and employee in the context of health and life protection, placing the responsibility for organizing a safe working environment on the employer.

Specific health and safety requirements for forestry machinery

Specific rules for the safe use of machinery in forestry are regulated by the Ordinance of the Minister of Economy of October 30, 2002 on occupational safety and health in the use of machinery and other technical devices for forestry work (Journal of Laws 2002 No. 191, item 1596). According to these regulations:

• Technical inspections of machinery must be carried out regularly, in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. If you work on a harvester, forwarder or other machine with a forestry crane, you are required to have a current UDT inspection.
• Instructions for operating machinery must be available and understandable to operators. Workers must be thoroughly trained in the operation of the specific type of machine.
• Machines must be equipped with protective guards to minimize the risk of contact with moving parts, such as chainsaws.

Technical inspections and maintenance of machines

Regular maintenance of machinery is an obligation that follows directly from health and safety regulations. Employers must ensure that machinery is fully operational and that any defects are corrected on an ongoing basis. Forestry machinery often operates in harsh conditions – mud, moisture, uneven terrain – which accelerates mechanical wear. Negligence in this regard can lead to breakdowns, which not only increase the risk of accidents, but also generate costs and downtime.

Rules for the safe use of forestry machinery

Health and safety regulations govern the use of forestry machinery in detail. Operators need to know not only the operating procedures, but also the limitations of the machinery, such as the maximum slope on which it is safe to operate. In addition:

– The machine’s work zone should be properly secured – other people must not be in the vicinity during operation.

– The direction of tree toppling should be well planned so as not to endanger the operator or other workers.

– Avoid working in extreme conditions – high winds, heavy precipitation or fog can significantly increase the risk of accidents.

– The “dead zone” principle – the operator should be aware of the area around the machine where there is the greatest risk of being crushed or hit by machine components.

– Communication between team members should be provided by radio or other communication equipment, especially in difficult conditions where line of sight may be limited.

Operator training and certification

Health and safety training, both theoretical and practical, is key to ensuring safe operation. Operators of forestry machinery must have the appropriate qualifications confirmed by certificates, and their knowledge should be regularly updated.

Every employee who operates forestry machinery must undergo appropriate training, which culminates in obtaining certificates authorizing them to work with a particular type of machinery. Training should include not only theory, but above all practical principles of operation, maintenance and emergency response.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

One of the key elements in ensuring safety at work is the use of appropriate personal protective equipment. Regulations require that workers be equipped with:

• Protective helmet with ear muffs (head and hearing protection).
• Protective goggles or visors (protection of eyes from debris, dust).
• Protective gloves (protection against cuts and injuries).
• Protective footwear with non-slip soles and protection against crushing feet
• Protective clothing – including special anti-surge pants or with inserts to protect against chainsaw cuts.

Emergency response

In the forest, in the event of an accident, help may arrive late, so regulations require that employees be prepared to handle emergencies. Workers must be trained in first aid, and there should be a properly equipped first aid kit in the workplace.

Safety in working with forestry machinery is a multifaceted issue, involving both technical and organizational and personal aspects. Health and safety regulations impose a number of obligations on both employers and employees, and compliance with them is key to minimizing the risk of accidents. Well-trained personnel, regularly serviced machinery and proper organization of work are the foundations of safe work in forestry.