Safe forestry work
Autumn and winter are the times of timber harvesting in Austria’s forests. Forestry work is often carried out on steep and almost impassable terrain.
Therefore, serious accidents occur time and again. Figures from the Austrian road safety board, Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit (KFV), show that often people working in forests do not use protective equipment.
Forestry work in autumn
Particularly in winter and in the transition period to spring, bad weather and sometimes icy or slippery ground increase the risk of forestry work. In addition, the wood is also wet on such days and therefore slips more easily.
Clear rules and safety precautions apply to commercial forestry and woodwork, but in the private sector it is the responsibility of each individual to protect themselves appropriately and to prepare for work in the forest.
Accidents during private forestry work
An analysis of the KFV accident database from 2020 shows that every year around 1,500 persons in Austria are injured so seriously during private forestry work that they have to be treated in a hospital. Lack of protective equipment is a problem - 3 out of 4 persons do not wear safety helmets.
Fractures are particularly common during forestry work. The most frequently affected body parts are the lower leg, fingers and ankles.
Training and protective equipment
The basis for injury-free forestry work is good training and further training for forestry work, as offered in Austria’s forestry training centres. Here, correct and safe forestry work is taught in theory and practice.
Although protective equipment is also largely worn in private forestry and woodwork, it is not a general standard. There is a particular need to catch up when it comes to wearing work gloves and helmets.