Safety and health in forestry work

Forestry continues to be one of the most hazardous industrial sectors in most countries. Around the world, there are often discouraging trends of rising accident rates and a high incidence of occupational diseases and of early retirement among forestry workers. However, clear evidence shows that good safety and health performance in forestry is feasible. Many ILO constituents recognize that safety at work is not only an ethical imperative, but that it makes 'dollars and sense'. In forestry, it is also a prerequisite for environmentally sound management and utilization of natural resources. Significantly, these governments, enterprises, employers' and workers' organizations are willing to do something about it.

This code is not a legally binding instrument intended to supersede national legislation. It has been designed to provide guidance to ILO constituents in their endeavour to improve the safety and health performance of their national forestry sectors or enterprises. The code is based on state-of-the-art international experience, and is intended to be relevant and practicable in most countries and enterprises. It aims to protect workers from hazards in forestry work and to prevent or reduce the incidence of occupational illness or injury. It contains useful ideas even for countries and enterprises with well-developed prevention strategies, but is especially valuable for those that lack relevant regulations and guidelines.