Working in forestry is a dream come true for many people, being a perfect blend of working with nature and applying technical and engineering knowledge to problems. Forestry and agriculture roles are highly sought-after, and highly specialised – but also highly dangerous.
According to the Health and Safety Executive, tree work activities can be highly injurious, with chainsaw operation responsible for a high number of casualties. This might be off-putting for those new to the field, but there are numerous safety measures in place to keep you safe. What are they?
Equipment
Firstly, it is important to mention that it is not your sole responsibility to render yourself safe in the workplace. It is extremely important that you take the necessary steps to do so, however your employer has a duty of care over you as an employee – and a legal obligation to make health and safety provisions on your behalf.
The legislation to which your employers are beholden, even outside of forestry and agriculture, includes the provision of – and training in the use of – the right protective equipment for the work at hand. In forestry, this would mean wearing safety boots to protect from falling objects and trip hazards, as well as protective clothing that shield from cut risks and the elements.
A lot of forestry work centres around the use of chainsaws for tree surgery or the removal of deadwood. As such, much of the PPE specific to forestry staff relates to remaining safe around dangerous power tools. Work coats and utility suits are designed to interrupt the moving chain in a chainsaw, to prevent the saw from cutting further in case of an accident. Ear defenders protect from the volume of the engine that powers them, and eye goggles protect from flying debris.
Training
Arguably more important than protective equipment is training. Proper training ensures that all workers on hand understand the risks inherent to certain tasks, and can ensure better teamwork to avoid accidents or respond properly when an accident does happen. Proper training means all workers are upskilled to the same level, and no weak link results in a poor outcome unnecessarily.
Equipment Maintenance
With equipment like chainsaws and harnesses an everyday part of forestry work, maintenance also becomes extremely important. Equipment that is used regularly should be furnished with a logbook, that notes down the number of hours used and highlights any potential issues. Where issues present themselves, the equipment should be immediately precluded from use and investigated. However, preventive maintenance is the much safer route, with routine inspections and maintenance tasks keeping everything working as it should.
