Wood production and exportation has long been a Chilean tradition. With sustained forestry growth over the past two decades, in 1990 Chile had an output of nearly 12 million m3 of wood, 90 percent of which was from Pinus radiata plantations. This has led to a corresponding rise in employment, the development of mechanized harvesting and a growing interest in increasing productivity through the application of ergonomics. This article summarizes the development of ergonomics in Chile as applied to selected forestry operations. It hopes to provide certain useful precepts for concerned forestry entrepreneurs and researchers. This issue, axtracted from Unasylva 44(172): 31-37, takes a close look at forest worker safety and ergonomics and considers what could be done, and by whom, to improve the situation. One key issue that emerges in several articles is the inadequate documentation on forestry related accidents and occupational diseases.

Type of Case
Printed publication (book, sourcebook, journal article…)

Publisher
FAO Unasylva no 172

Region
Americas

Biome
All

Forest Type
All forest types (natural and planted)

Primary Designated Function
Production