Ecology of Iranian Forest

Background and objectives: Examining injury rates in various occupations, particularly in the forestry sector, is a critical indicator for assessing occupational safety. Forestry is considered one of the most hazardous occupational sectors. It is associated with a high rate of occupational injuries and accidents. Due to the inherently dangerous nature of Forestry, it is prone to incidents that result in both physical and financial losses, especially in mountainous countries like Iran. Numerous reports have highlighted that forest exploitation is a high-risk occupation that not only faces natural hazards but also safety challenges related to machinery use and poor working conditions. To mitigate these accidents, effective management and the promotion of a safety culture in the workplace are of utmost importance. Studies have shown that the majority of accidents are caused by unsafe behaviors and environmental conditions. Research on the causes of accidents and risk analysis, particularly in wood harvesting operations within Iranian forests, has focused on identifying risk factors and improving occupational safety. Investigating the types and severity of injuries is crucial for better management of occupational safety. Therefore, this study investigates occupational injuries related to forest harvesting in the Chafroud region of western Guilan Province.
Methodology: The study area is located in the Chafroud watershed in the western part of Gilan province. Geographically, it is a mountainous and steep region, with slopes reaching up to 80% in some areas. The elevation in this region ranges from 900 to 1500 meters above sea level. For this study, data on work-related accidents in the forests of Chafroud were gathered from reports and questionnaires, covering 371 accidents over 10 years (2004-2013). Semi-mechanized exploitation methods are employed in the area, including chainsaw cutting, skidding with a skidder, and loading with a loader. This study was conducted using a cross‑sectional descriptive design, and the data were analyzed using SPSS software. Accident frequency rate (AFR) and accident severity rate (ASR) were used to analyze the accidents. The accident frequency rate measures the number of accidents per million working hours, while the accident severity rate measures the number of days lost per thousand working hours. The severity rates were analyzed and compared based on slope and different stages of operation. Additionally, factors such as the frequency rate, severity and type, cause of the incident, type of accident, time of occurrence, type of injury, and occupation of the injured were also evaluated.
Results: The results showed that the average accident frequency rate (recurrence coefficient) in the forests of Chafroud was 14, meaning that, on average, 14 accidents occurred per million working hours. The highest number of accidents was recorded in 2009. The average accident severity rate was 0.18, indicating that 0.18 days were lost per thousand working hours. The highest accident severity rate occurred in 2006, while the lowest was in 2008. In terms of accident causes, being struck by equipment or moving objects was the most common cause, accounting for 14% of the accidents, while burns were the least common. Regarding the type of injury, the most frequent injuries were to the hands (36%) and feet (28%). Results from the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the accident severity rate significantly varied depending on land slope and the cause of the accident. The severity rate was higher on slopes greater than 30% compared to lower slopes, and accidents during the felling stage were more severe than those during the logging and loading stages. As for the time of occurrence, most accidents took place between 11:00-12:00 AM and 1:00-2:00 PM. Finally, the majority of injuries were associated with logging operations, while the fewest accidents occurred during restoration and development activities. Based on the results of the Tukey mean comparison test, the accident severity rate in the felling stage is higher and different from the logging stage, and in the logging stage is also higher and different from the loading stage. On the other hand, the results of the regression analysis show that as the operation stage changes from felling to skidding and loading, the accident severity rate decreases exponentially.
Conclusion: Given the commencement of the Seventh Development Plan in the country and the shift in perspective regarding forest management, along with the growing need to prioritize human resources in forestry, research on occupational safety in forests has become particularly crucial. Therefore, the reliable dissemination of research findings on occupational safety and work-related accidents in forests is of significant importance, especially considering the limited number of such studies published in the country. To reduce the incidence and severity of accidents in the study area, it is recommended that safety programs be incorporated into worker training upon their entry into the job. Foremen should conduct these safety training sessions in the forest. Additionally, workers should be encouraged to use safety and personal protection equipment, informed about the benefits of these devices, and motivated to use them consistently.