Stan wyszkolenia i wyposażenie operatorów pilarek spalinowych zatrudnionych przy pozyskaniu drewna w polskich lasach

One of the most important factors influencing work performance of chainsaw operators, considered as one of the most dangerous, is acquirement of knowledge in a training course enabling to obtain vocational qualifications as a logger and to gain experience in timber harvesting operations. Securing the safety of the chainsaw operator is realized on two levels. Firstly, by organizing appropriate training courses, and secondly, by providing employees with appropriate personal protective equipment. The research was carried out in 15 forest districts in different parts of Poland. The survey conducted on a group of over 200 loggers was aimed at identifying the most important factors affecting health and safety of work in forestry. According to the obtained results, a large group of chainsaw operators completed only a 2−3−day−long training courses, during which they could not get sufficient knowledge how to operate with the chainsaw. The lack of knowledge has a direct impact on the fact that 57% of the respondents use the chainsaw for its extreme wear, 41% of the loggers do not prepare the work place before tree felling and do not debark the stump. 40% of these workers do not set the chain brake, while starting the chainsaw engine. 41% of loggers do not work with an assistant in young stands. The consequences of such negligence are injuries. 76% of them are not reported as accidents at work.