E-fact 29: Occupational safety and health in Europe's forestry industry

Type of item
EU & international information
Country
EU
Year of publication
2008

English

Polish

Description

This e-fact outlines the dangers of working in forestry and provides information on prevention. Chemicals are not addressed in detail. Forests and other wooded land cover about 160 million hectares, some 35%, of the European Union’s land area. As well as wood, forests provide cork, Christmas trees, resins, pine nuts, medicinal plants, mushrooms and berries. They are a valuable resource, but forests are a dangerous place to work: the incidence of fatal or major injuries is higher than in many other sectors, with forest workers that use chainsaws to fell trees being at particular risk. Heavy physical workloads, noise, vibrations and exposure to biological hazards and chemicals also put forest workers at risk.

Other data

Provider
Provider name (English)
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
Provider name (Original)
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
Tasks covered
Applying Pesticides
Handling Plants
Woodworking
Working Outdoors
Biological hazard
Biochemical hazards
Fungi
Viruses
Bacteria
Parasites
Zoonoses
Hazard - physical state
Aerosols
Dusts
Liquids
Solids
Vapours
Hazard - health effects
Allergens
Carcinogens
Irritants
Toxic substances
Infection
Exposure route
Bites and stings
Dermal contact
Inhalation
Skin absorption
Substance Description

exhaust gases , fertilizers, pesticides, colourants, wood dust

CAS Number
630-08-0
EC number
211-128-3
Prevention measures
Level 3. Reducing / minimising the risk by personal measures (PPE)
Purpose of the material
General information
Guidance
Target group
Employers
OSH consultant
Safety officers