Perspectives on Forest Operations Safety

Forest operations, which include logging and other forestry activities (e.g., planting, thinning, fuels reduction, and wildland fire fighting), are a vital component of forest management. It is also one of the most dangerous places to work in the United States (U.S.). In 2022, there were 54 fatalities to logging workers. The work-related fatality rate for logging workers is 100.7 per 100,000 FTE,* which is more than 27 times higher than the rate for all occupations at 3.7 per 100,000 FTE.

There have been many improvements over time that have contributed to improved safety for logging workers. Improved safety regulations and enforcement in many states, combined with improvements in chainsaw technology and personal protective equipment, along with advancements in synthetic ropes and worker location technology have all helped in keeping logging workers safer. However, although progress has been made over time to reduce fatalities and injuries, the difficult conditions inherent to logging still present many dangers.

One of the biggest contributors to safety has been the increased mechanization of forest operations. When workers are in the protective cabins of machinery, rather than exposed to chainsaws or timber and terrain hazards, the number of fatalities has declined. Other changes in operations have also reduced hazards. Until recently in the mountainous Western forests, the terrain made mechanized operations difficult. New technology uses machines working on steep slopes supported by a tether attached to a machine or anchor at the top of the slope (see photo). Computer assisted tension in the tether line allows sufficient traction and stability for machines to operate on slopes much steeper than was previously possible.

While new technologies have been effective in reducing some risks, they can also present new hazards. New technologies have made it possible to conduct logging activities in a larger area of the forests, however, the areas that cannot be harvested using mechanization, often leave the most difficult and hazardous conditions for manual operations.

Even though mechanization has changed the forest operation picture, reducing some hazards, many safety concerns remain. Prior to mechanization, common injuries included cuts from a chainsaw or being hit by stressed trees. Now, injuries from slips, trips, and falls are a more common occurrence. Slip, trip, and fall injuries often occur as operators are getting into and out of machines, working around the outside of machines, and performing maintenance activities. Training on preventing slips, trips and falls can help address these hazards. Additionally, workers may need additional training on operating and maintaining these large pieces of machinery safely.

John J. Garland, PhD, PE, is an Affiliate Professor at the Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center at the University of Washington, Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University, and a consulting forest engineer.

Ray Berthiaume is a Field Specialist in Natural Resources as the Coös County Forester for the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension.

Jennifer Lincoln, PhD, CSP, is the Associate Director of the NIOSH Office of Agriculture Safety and Health.

Kitty Hendricks, MA, is a Research Health Scientist for the NIOSH Division of Safety Research and the Assistant Coordinator for the NIOSH Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Program.

See the other blogs in this forestry series:

COFE – The Future of Forest Operations

Job Satisfaction in the Logging Industry

 * FTE: full-time equivalent worker is equal to 40 hours of work per week for 50 weeks per year, or 2,000 working hours.