Occupational safety in forestry work is strengthened
With the revision of the Forest Act, occupational safety courses will become mandatory for workers in timber harvesting.
The Federal Council has approved the revision of the Forest Ordinance. On the one hand, this is intended to better protect Swiss forests, but also to improve occupational safety in timber harvesting.
For example, contractors for timber harvesting work in the forest must now prove that their workers have completed a federally recognized course on occupational safety.
Timber harvesting work in the forest includes felling, limbing, cutting and moving trees and tree trunks. Other work in the forest, such as young forest maintenance (with tree diameters up to 20 cm measured at 1.3 m above ground) or maintenance work on forest roads are not affected.
Similarly, the training obligation does not cover timber harvesting work that is carried out outside of direct contractor and employer relationships, such as timber harvesting work in one's own private forest. A transitional regulation allows contractors a period of 5 years after the WaG comes into force until the course certificate must be provided.
Occupational safety and health protection
The courses should cover general occupational safety topics such as emergency plans, protective equipment, duties of employers and employees or health protection (e.g. ergonomics, lifting and carrying), as well as demonstrating the safe execution of specific timber harvesting techniques and procedures in a practice-oriented manner. Normally, a total duration of 10 days is sufficient, which can also be attended in sections of e.g. two times five days.
The amendments to the Forest Ordinance and the revised Forest Act will enter into force on January 1, 2017.
