Acta Scientiarum Polonorum
Silvarum Colendarum Ratio et Industria Lignaria

The annual wood harvesting in 2015 amounted to 38.5 mln m3. Timber harvesting operations are considered to be one of the most dangerous activities in forests. The aim of this study is to present the structure of ac- cidents in the State Forests in 2011–2015. The following stages of removing trees have been extracted: tree felling, delimbing and bucking, chainsaw operation, determination of cuts, wood distribution, gathering of wood piles, as well as other activities. The varied share of accidents in individual wood harvesting operations has been detected. The most significant accident risk occur during the wood distribution. In the second place, there are activities related to the determination of cuts and organization within clearcut areas. In this case, tree felling, delimbing and bucking are less meaningful. Delegation of dangerous tasks to the private companies of forest services did not result in a decrease in the number of accidents. It still remains at a high level.