Investigation on human accidents caused by forest logging at Shafaroud Forest Corporation Company during 2006 till 2010

This research was done in forests under the Shafaroud Forest Company in Guilan province of I.R. Iran during 2006 to 2010, using questionnaires and incident report forms. Results showed that incidence of accidents increased from 2006 to 2008 (45.29 cases per thousand) and decreased from 2009 to 2010 (25.71 cases per thousand). The Lowest and the highest values of the accident coefficient were 11 (2010) and 20 (2008) cases per million, respectively. The percentage of accident incident locations at central, Shafaroud, Shanderman, lowlands and Asalem sites were 46, 27, 13, 7 and 7, respectively. The greatest job accidents at forest logging units, related to drivers, chainsaw worker, and chokeman, at support service units related to welder and mechanic, and at restoration and development units related to forest guard. Results showed that main causes of the events are due to striking different things (43%), accidents (22%), falling (12%), falling from high object (10%), high extent stress and action (9%) and other factors (4%). Some of the organs are subject to more risks than the others, including hand, eye, face, back, spinal column and leg (41, 21, 19, 18 and 15 cases, respectively). Application of personal protective equipments as main safety effort and standard machinery and working equipments in order to prevent accidents, can reduce injuries and provide safe conditions for workers