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We are relieved to be able to present you with this issue after more than a year without an Update on the forestry workforce. One is almost led to think that this is part of a wider pattern of contradictions: on the one hand, social and workforce issues in forestry have been receiving much more attention of late than they used to. The resolution adopted at the Lisbon Conference, social criteria and indicators in certification and the encouraging echo to the publication of the ILO Code of Practice point in that direction. On the other hand, fewer and fewer resources seem to be available to deal with these issues. FORWORKNET members may be aware, for example, that one of the world's few centres of excellence on forest operations, the Sundberg/Axelsson Institute of Operational Efficiency in Sweden, will be abolished. The FORWORKNET was probably fortunate to escape the trend. Peter Blombäck, who made a significant contribution to the network during his time with the ILO, is now back in Sweden. After a one year period of uncertainty, the Swedish Development Agency SIDA has now decided to replace him. Mattias Lövgren, presently with the pulp and paper multinational STORA, is going to join us in April 1999. He will help to make sure the Update appears regularly again and prepare a new membership register. This issue of the Update is the first to be available on the Internet on the ILO home page. A forestry and wood industries page has been available for some time. You will find it by moving to 'sectoral activities' from the ILO home page. Please check it out and let us know how we could make it more useful for you.
Focus on: Safety and health in forestry work ILO Publishes New Code of Practice on Occupational Safety and Health in Forest Work
Tripartite expert meeting30 experts nominated by governments, employers' and workers' organizations met in Geneva from 23-30 September 1997 to review a draft Code of Practice prepared by the ILO. The meeting was chaired by Clay Perry, FORWORKNET member and expert nominated by the government of Canada. The meeting was characterized by a very positive and constructive attitude among participants and a joint effort to produce a Code that would provide the best possible guidance to the forestry sector. ILO Codes of Practice are not legally binding. They are international guidelines based on the technical expertise of representatives from industry, workers' organizations and governments in the most important producer countries. They also represent an international tripartite consensus on what is necessary and practicable in order to minimize occupational accidents and diseases in forestry. The new Code has been designed to be relevant and practicable in most countries and enterprises. For countries and companies that do not have regulation or guidance relevant to forestry available, it provides detailed and specific advice for the most important and most hazardous forestry operations. Highlights of the Code
ReactionsThe Code has been very well received by the experts and most ILO constituents who had been invited to comment on the draft. The Government of Finland for example wrote: 'The document also provides incentives in countries like Finland with strong practices in forestry work and with extensive investment in research, education and training on occupational safety and health.' Forestry companies in South Africa commented: 'As a whole the Draft seems reasonable and practicable. With the provision that the inspectorate take local and general socio-economic conditions into consideration, it will make forestry work safer and environmentally acceptable.' Where do we go from here?The Code has just been published in English, French and Spanish. The ILO will shortly prepare an information and training package in order to promote the Code and to help its constituents adapt and implement its provisions. Advisory services by the ILO to this end have started in Uruguay and Brazil. ILO constituents in the forestry sector have already started to use the Code. It has been translated into Russian, Czech and Swedish. Authorization has been granted for translations into Slovenian and Romanian. A translation into Portuguese is being considered. Several countries have expressed their intention to use the Code when developing national regulations and guidelines. Tripartite committees are working on safety regulations in Latvia and the Czech Republic. The Code has been included as one of the policy instruments in the "Plan for the Sustainable Development of Portuguese Forests". The ideal use for the Code would be to be incorporate its provisions not only into safety and health regulations, but also into general codes of practice for countries or individual companies. This is where the ILO will focus its advisory work and assistance to national constituents in the forestry sector. The Code is on sale at ILO area offices as well as in Geneva. The price is SFR 27.50. We do hope that FORWORKNET members will help to spread the word: Copies of the Code and further information are available from Peter Poschen (see address at end) The Nordic Ergonomic Guidelines for Forest MachinesA new ergonomic guide to the design and assessment of forest machines has just been completed in the Nordic countries. The old guide, known as
'the ergonomic checklist' had for many years helped raise machine users'
awareness of good design and assisted manufacturers in developing new
equipment. However, many of the operators still suffer from pain in the
neck and shoulder region. Future forestry work will also put new demands
on the operator. There is thus a need to release the operator from the
intensive part of the machine operation. This will give the operator more
time for planning and assessing the quality aspects of the task. There
is also a need to make communication and decision aids easier to use,
as well as to improve the design of the operators' work place. The purpose of the guide is to increase the long-term efficiency of mechanised forestry operations. This is done by meeting the operators' requirements for health, safety and well-being. Reference groups in the Nordic countries were involved in the development of the guide. These groups included forest companies, trade unions, machine owners' associations and manufacturers. As a basis, a comprehensive scientific review was carried out, covering work physiology, perception-cognition psychology, occupational toxicology and forest operations and techniques. After two years of consideration an agreement on the guidelines was reached. The guide has no official status and is meant to be used as a voluntary agreement between machine user, buyer and seller. The new Nordic ergonomic guide uses a different method for assessing the ergonomic profile of a machine, compared to the earlier one. The new method is based on the number of hours the operator spends on the machine, the work rate and on what kind of work the machine is doing. Class A covers year-round, at high productivity work in stands and terrain occurring in the Nordic countries. Class D covers work during a shorter part of the year or the day and in more gentle stands and terrain. Class 0 (zero) means that the assessed function does not fulfil required standards and legislation, or set the operator at a high risk of being injured. The Nordic Ergonomic Guidelines for Forest Machines can be ordered from the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden, Science Park, 751 83 Uppsala, Sweden. Ph: +46 18 188500, Fax: +46 18 188600, e-mail: skogforsk@skogforsk.se. Internet: www.skogforsk.se New Zealand: the Sabaton TMInnovative
foot protection for loggers goes on large-scale trial Chainsaw injuries to loggers' feet continue to be the single most common injury in logging. Almost all of these injuries concern the left foot. LIRO, the New Zealand logging industry research organization, in conjunction with an armourer, has developed articulated stainless steel foot armour for the left foot of chainsaw operators to the stage where it can be tested in a large-scale field trial. It is intended to commercialize the device to give all forest workers ready access. A batch of about 80 Sabatons TM had been fitted in late October 1998. A footwear maker has taken an option to manufacture the device once the field trials have been completed. For further information contact: Richard Parker, Private Bag 3020, Rotorua, New Zealand Fax: +64 7 346 2886; e-mail: info@fri.cri.nz
Trends and developments Contractors' associations - the struggle to get organizedEleven associations of forestry contractors met in Sweden in 1997 to discuss their situation and options for setting up a network of entrepreneurs' associations. A summary. Contractors are an ever
more important part of the forestry workforce. A dynamic contractor sector
can make an important contribution to achieving sustainable forest management
at competitive prices and to providing good jobs in forestry. In practice,
contractors all over the world are faced with major obstacles. Businesses
are often not very profitable. There is a lack of professionalism among
many contractors, making it difficult to meet quality standards. Skill
deficits are a major cause of this, particularly in business administration
and management, but also on technical subjects, including safety and health. Contractors' associations can be a major asset for the development of the sector. They give contractors a voice and also enable government, industry and training institutions to reach contractors. Associations can promote professionalism, help to maintain quality, offer training not available from other sources and provide or help obtain insurance coverage at affordable rates. In some countries associations act as employers' representatives in collective bargaining with contractor employees. Because of these potential benefits, the ILO Code of Practice on Safety and Health as well as the report for the Ministerial Conference in Europe recommend support for contractors' associations by governments and the forestry sector. Such support is not usually forthcoming. Virtually all associations at the meeting have funding problems and can afford few, if any, staff. The association in Ireland is the only one to have received financial support - from the European Union. The United Kingdom association has developed insurance services as a source of funding. The association negotiates favourable terms with commercial insurers and in return gets part of the premium. The associations noticed that they have many problems in common and would benefit from closer contacts and a more intensive exchange of experiences. Attempts to establish a European Network of Entrepreneurs have so far been unsuccessful because sufficient funding could not be mobilized. The associations agreed, however, to continue the effort to create a European or international network. For further information contact: Mr. Barrie Hudson, Chief Executive, Forestry Contracting Association, Aberdeenshire AB5I 5LA, United Kingdom fax: +44-1467-651595 Contractors and their associations at a glance
Chile Adopts Code of Forest PracticesWith the signatures of the Minister of Labour, of the representatives of the Chilean forest industry association and the three federations of trade unions in the forestry sector, a Code of Forest Practices for Chile (in Spanish: Código de prácticas forestales para Chile) was adopted in May 1997. The first document of its kind in Chile in any industrial sector, it has now become available as a publication. 
The Code is intended to promote rational practices that improve productivity, protect the environment and those working in the forest. In six chapters it provides guidance on:
The Code is the fruit of two years of intensive work in six technical committees. Under the leadership of Sergio Valdés, practitioners from forest industry and forest contractors drew up guidance on recommended practices. The ILO provided advice on the scope and content of the Code as well as on procedures, and made available the services of the national coordinator. The drafting groups aimed at 'going a little further than the best current practices'. All parties recognize that the Code is not perfect and will have to be reviewed and extended after some experience has been gathered with implementing its provisions. It is also clear, however, that it contains numerous challenges for the majority of companies and contractors in introducing requirements that go beyond present standards. This is particularly true with respect to training. The Code establishes minimum training requirements for all major jobs. This could become the starting point for a systematic development of training for forest workers, hopefully leading to skill certificates that are recognized industry-wide. The national and regional tripartite forestry committees in the country are presently developing a promotion and training programme to ensure the widest possible implementation of the Code. A first dissemination seminar took place in Valdivia in November 1998. For further information and copies of the Code (available only in Spanish), please contact: Pablo Lazo Grandi,
Ministerio del Trabajo (Ministry of Labour), Huerfanos 1273, Santiago,
Chile People, Forests and ForestryThe 3rd Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe held in Lisbon, Portugal in June 1998 adopts resolution on socio-economic aspects of sustainable forest management Redressing a certain imbalance in the resolutions adopted at earlier conferences in Strasbourg and Helsinki, which had focused primarily on environmental and economic aspects of sustainable forest management, the Lisbon Conference adopted a resolution addressing social and also labour elements: 'Resolution L1 - People, Forests and Forestry - Enhancement of Socio-economic Aspects of Sustainable Forest Management'. The elements considered in L1 in particular are:
In the sections of L1 on future actions that are particularly relevant for forestry work the ministers vow to:
The ministers also agreed to develop a programme of work to implement the decisions of the Lisbon Conference and to reinforce the implementation of previous commitments in collaboration with international bodies and organizations, in particular FAO European Forestry Commission, UN/ECE Timber Committee, UNEP, ILO, NGOs and other relevant stakeholders. The resolution is based on a report prepared by a team of specialists with the participation of a number of FORWORKNET members. The report analyses the situation and outlines desirable measures in much greater detail than could be retained in the resolution. The report is available as an ILO working paper. Copies of the 'General declaration and resolutions adopted' are available from: Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of Portugal, Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe, Lisbon, Portugal Fax: +351 1 312 49 92; e-mail: meeting@ip.pt International Network of Forestry Training Centres LaunchedA working group at a FAO/ECE/ILO Joint Committee seminar on the training of forestry contractor and small forest owners in April 1998 decided to establish a network of forestry training centres. This network is now ready to go into operation. The network is to facilitate exchanges of information, training materials, trainees and staff. It is also to be used to develop partnerships for projects. It will primarily function through a dedicated Internet homepage. The homepage has been designed to be interactive and provides information about all centres affiliated, but also to communicate with other centres, to run discussion fora and to publish notices. Access is free of charge. For further information contact: Christian SALVIGNOL, Directeur, Centre Forestier de la Région Alpes Côte d'Azur, Pié de Gâche, F-84240 La Bastide des Jourdans, France. Fax: +33 4 90 77 84 09; e-mail: centre.forestier@wanadoo.fr
Too Much Cutting Edge ?Laboratory tests suggest new chain filing method may increase risk of leg injury in chainsaw work In many countries chainsaw chains are sharpened with round files. In recent years a method using flat, triangular or otherwise edged files, already used in North America, New Zealand and Australia has been spreading in Europe. This "edge" or flat filing method not only sharpens the "roof" of the tooth but also the side. The method supposedly has advantages:
but also some disadvantages:
The Swiss Occupational Accident Insurance (acronym in German: SUVA) requested the Kuratorium für Waldarbeit und Forsttechnik (KWF), a German forestry equipment testing and certification institute, to test the impact of the new filing method on vibration, kick-back and protective trousers. The results for vibration according to ISO 7505-1986 suggest a 40% reduction for front handle and 30-60% for the rear handle for flat-filed chains. Kick-back measurements according to ISO 9518-1992 showed no significant reduction. No differences were found with regard to noise. The tests for protective trousers compared the traditional sharpening with round files and those with edged files. The test method followed that specified in EN 381, the European standard for protective trousers. The results are shown in the table below. With round files even an "aggressively sharpened" chain did not cut through the samples at speeds below 20 m/s, the standard test speed. With flat files almost all samples were completely cut through at speeds of 10-20% below test speed.
Trials with manually edge-filed chains on commonly used 9-layer protective trousers (material ENGTEXT Y029) The risk of leg injuries would seem to increase if the flat filing technique becomes more popular. Does the improved performance justify a higher cost for accidents? What are the prospects for developing protective clothing that would offer similar levels of protection as that for conventional filing? To explore these and other open questions in connection with "edge filing", the KWF will organize a workshop in the near future. For further information please contact: Mr. Othmar Wettmann,
SUVA, PO Box 4358, CH-6002 Luzern, fax: +41-41-4195204,
22nd Session of the Joint FAO/ECE/ILO Committee on Forest Technology, Management and TrainingAt the invitation of the Government of Slovakia, the Committee met for this session in Zvolen from 14-16 September 1998. On the agenda were several special topics, the election of a new steering committee, and the work programme 1999-2002. Special topics discussed at the session included forestry in Slovakia, social aspects of forestry and multiple-use forestry. The team of specialists on 'multiple-use forestry' concluded its work and presented a final report. It concluded inter alia that increasing pressure on most forest benefits will require more management and balancing of interests, not least social involvement. There are significant differences between countries concerning the mix of uses needed and implications for management. Adaptive management as a technique to explore uncertain areas more quickly under management control appears a useful technique to encourage. Multiple-use forestry also offers new opportunities for increased use of forests by the public, many of which could lead to extra income for the forest or area. The report is to be published shortly and will be available from Ch. Kind, FAO/ECE Timber Section (see address below). A special paper on 'Social aspects in forestry' was presented on the basis of the report 'People, forests and sustainability' prepared by the Joint Committee Team of Specialists for the Lisbon Conference. The report had identified 5 major themes for consideration in a resolution and made specific proposals for objectives and strategies. While some suggestions were not retained in Lisbon resolution L1, they remain nonetheless relevant. The 5 themes are:
The full report (29pp.) is available from Ms. Ch. Kind, FAO/ECE Timber Section, Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10 fax:+41-22-917 00 41; e-mail: christiane.kind@unece.org. The report is also included in an ILO Working Paper 'People, Forests and Sustainability' along with the papers prepared by the members of the team of specialists. Copies are available from Peter Poschen, ILO (see address last page). Members of the new Steering Committee are:
Programme 1999-2002:Social and workforce questions will be high on the Committee's agenda for the next several years. Highlights of the future programme of work are:
The Committee also agreed to establish a team of specialists on 'Partnerships and Participation in Forestry'.
Guide on Design and Safe Use of Cable Logging Systems and Forestry WinchesWork with cable logging systems and forestry winches belongs to the more dangerous forestry work. In Norway we do not find alarming figures in the statistics on accidents related to work with cable logging systems because few systems are in operation and workers are quite skilled. Accidents with forestry winches are more common and with severe consequences. Against the background of the serious hazards connected to this work guidelines have been issued for both operations. The guidelines have been prepared by the Norwegian Forestry Health and Safety Committee in cooperation with experts from the Norwegian Forest Research Institute (NISK). The Norwegian Forestry Health and Safety Committee consists of one representative each from employers, employees, forest owners and authorities and acts as a consultative committee to the member organizations and the labour inspection authority. The main purpose is to establish essential health and safety requirements for design and safe use of cable logging systems and forestry winches. The Use of Work Equipment Directives also demand guidelines to help employers, employees, consultants and authorities to understand what shall be required according to the functional text in the directives. There are no European standards on these items and no proposal for a standard to support the Machine Directives has been submitted to CEN (the European Institute for Standardization). The guide is based on Norwegian competence, knowledge, experience, relevant Norwegian standards as well as on standards and guidelines from Austria, Germany, UK, Canada and USA. It has been found practical to divide the guide in two:
The guides are available from: Oddbjörn Dammerud, Labour inspection authority, P.O. Box 8103 Dep, N-0032 OSLO Telefax: +47
22 69 30 61 The chainsaw in the tropical forestFor logging operations in natural forests in the tropics, the chainsaw is the tool for felling, limbing and cross-cutting of logs, and in some cases for further milling of the logs. In order to work efficiently and safely with the chainsaw, training is needed. the International Vocational Training Centre, also know as IPC Groene Ruimte, has developed a booklet on this topic, based on its experience in Cameroon, Suriname and Indonesia. In tropical regions, most people who work with a chainsaw have had no training at all. The booklet has been prepared to improve this and is meant as a support to practical training. It can also be used as a reference and help to adjust and control a work method or work situation. In its 32 pages, work with the chainsaw and maintenance are explained, mainly through drawings. All examples and situations are based on the felling of large tropical trees and consist of "good" and "bad" examples. Topics like controlled felling, work technique, personal protective equipment, chainsaw maintenance and first aid are all illustrated in a very simple way and therefore make it readily understandable for people working on the forest floor. The booklet is available in a French and an English version. Contact address: The International Vocational Training Centre, Mr. Roland Tromp (Coordinator International Affairs), P.O. Box 393, 6800 AJ Arnhem, The Netherlands Tel: +31 26 355 0100, Fax: + 31 26 445 5629 Labor intensive harvesting of tree plantations in the southern Philippinesby M. Jurvélius. Mike Jurvélius has compiled a case study based on experiences with simple, labour-intensive harvesting of timber from tree plantations in the southern Philippines. Considerable effort was made, beginning in the mid 1970s, to develop and promote appropriate wood harvesting and transport technologies in the Philippines. These technologies did not gain widespread acceptance until the 1990s. Careful efforts were required to ensure that the developed technologies were in fact appropriate and that relevant training and education programmes were offered. Many people believed it was not possible to supply the large volumes of wood required by modern forest industries using labour-intensive manual and animal systems. Others discriminated against such technologies, assuming them to be backward and inappropriate for modern forestry operations. The recent experience in the southern Philippines has caused a reassessment of such thinking. The experience of harvesting large volumes (250,000 m3/yr) of plantation grown wood clearly demonstrates the potential advantages of labour-intensive methods under certain socio-economic conditions. These methods are often less costly and less damaging to the environment than more mechanized harvesting. They provide employment for large numbers of people and are less dependent on fossil fuels. The methods studied included handsaw and axe use, manual loading, and carabao skidding. Forest Harvesting Case Study 9, 30 pp. FAO, Bangkok, Thailand (1997). English South Pacific: Guidelines on the Management of Cyclone Damage to Forests and Trees in South Pacific Island CountriesCyclones are an annual occurrence in Pacific Island Countries. The main uncertainty each year is which country will be hit, and at what intensity and frequency. Being prepared for cyclones and trying to reduce the damage they can cause are therefore part of living in the Pacific. Forests tend to be subjected to heavy cyclone damage and to face specific difficulties dealing with it. Access to devastated areas and assessment of the damage caused is often difficult. Delays in propping up blown-over young trees can lead to the loss of plantations. Salvaging of timber must be done quickly to avoid losses and deterioration by insects and fungi. The clearing of windblown timber where stems are under tension is very dangerous and can add to the death toll causes by the cyclone itself. Mobilising additional milling capacity and marketing poses other challenges. In order to help prepare the forestry sector for this recurrent phenomenon, Guidelines were prepared at a regional workshop held in Fiji in October 1997. These have recently become available as a publication. It covers:
Annexes provide technical guidance on salvaging using chainsaws and bullocks, on log storage, and on the up righting of pine plantations. Copies and further information are available from: TANG Hon Tat, FAO
South Pacific Forestry Development Programme, 9 Pender Street, Suva, Fiji India: "Nature and us". Guidelines for natural resource management by indigenous and tribal peoplesIndigenous and tribal peoples often depend on forests for their livelihood. They are therefore also important users and managers of resources. The 'INDISCO' Programme of the ILO has been assisting them in strengthening their capacities to design and implement their own development plans and programmes and in ensuring that their traditional values and culture are safeguarded. The programme was an inter-regional response to the provisions of the ILO Convention on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples (No. 169) which stresses respect for their cultures and ways of life and for their right to continued existence. INDISCO has 20 projects in 10 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, funded by various donors and implemented by indigenous and tribal peoples' organizations. The publication "Nature and Us" is the third in a series of INDISCO Guidelines. It aims at providing operational guidelines and action plans on environment and forestry-related activities in the tribal context in India and covers awareness raising, afforestation, shifting cultivation, rehabilitation of degraded land and ways to initiate sustainable, market-oriented activities. The Guidelines are based mainly on the author's experiences gained during her work with different tribal groups in India. The Guidelines can be obtained from: Mr. H. Polat, ILO Cooperative
Branch, 1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland Camps and nutrition for forest workers(Campamentos y alimentación para trabajadores forestales)by Elias Apud, Manuel Gutierrez, Silvia Lagos and Fabiola Maureira The project 'Development and Transfer of Ergonomically Adapted Technologies to Raise Productivity in Forestry' jointly implemented by the University of Concepción and Fundación Chile has begun to publish a series of manuals accompanied by videos to guide enterprises on various aspects of technology selection, work organization and working conditions for forest workers. The work has been requested by a number of large plantation owning companies in southern Chile. The first volume draws on extensive practical experience with improvements of camp installation and research and development for adapted diets for forest workers in Chile. A 20-page chapter deals with camp installations, in particular dormitories, kitchen and dining room as well as with sanitation. The second chapter gives an introduction on physiological requirements of forest workers and the status of worker nutrition in Chile. On this basis a model menu for the week is proposed that considers requirements, cost and local taste. Tables with breakdowns of ingredients facilitate purchases of food. Publication and video (both in Spanish) are available from: Prof. Elias
Apud, University of Concepción, P.O. Box/Casilla 2407, Concepción,
Chile Europe: Forestry in the Context of Rural DevelopmentNiels E. Koch and Jens Rasmussen (eds). 1998 This publication is the final report of a European Union-funded research cooperation involving some 100 researchers from 20 countries. The project included a comparison of the role of forestry in 19 countries concluding that in about half the focus was on production functions whereas in central and eastern Europe service functions were predominant. According to the study forests contribute to the income of some 10 million private forest owners and help to support about 3 million jobs in the forestry sector. The publication contains an annex where the latter number is broken down by country and sub-sector. The study also concludes that little is known about the attitudes of private forest owners in particular when confronted with social demands on forests. An urgent need is detected to find ways to make benefits from forest services and non-timber forest products accrue to the owner. Other priorities elaborated on are the problems of mountain forests, the changing role of forests in the landscape and the participation of the public in forestry planning processes. Im addition to summary chapters on these aspects, the book includes 20 country reports. Copies are available from: Niels E. Koch, Danish Forestry and Landscape Research Institute, Horsholm Kongeveij 11, DK-2970 Horsholm, Denmark fax: +45-45 76 32 33 Publications related to forestry wood and pulp & paper industriesThis
is an updated version of the list of ILO publications related to the forestry
and wood industries sector. It contains 71 references arranged under 5
sections:
For your calendar
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Forest work has
remained one of the most hazardous occupations in most countries in spite
of the efforts of many governments, companies and individuals to make
the profession safer. Forestry also has more than its share of occupational
diseases when compared with other sectors. While the situation is worst
in tropical countries, much remains to be done in temperate ones as well.
Encouragingly, there is a growing number of governments and companies
that are not prepared to accept fatalities, accidents and routine early
retirement as a fact of life. The new Code of Practice draws on state-of-the-art
international experience to provide guidance for the design and implementation
of safety and health management at all levels from country through enterprises
to the worksite.
It is the Norwegian Health
and Safety Committee's opinion that the guides, in the absence of other
standards, will act as basic document in risk assessment of machine safety
and safe use of cable logging systems and forestry winches.