Every year, before the start of the timber harvesting season in the forest, the forestry department holds a work safety day to which municipal forestry workers and local forestry contractors are invited. Due to the pandemic-related restrictions, this year there was a course with five stations, which was completed in small groups of a maximum of ten participants. In accordance with the applicable regulations, it was therefore possible to put together a varied program. A special highlight in the program was made possible by the support of the volunteer fire department (FFW) from Kornwestheim. "The district of Ludwigsburg has had a tension simulator at its Kornwestheim site for several months now, in which we can clamp tree trunks under controlled conditions. We can then safely practise special cutting techniques with the chainsaw that are needed when processing storm damaged timber," says Thomas Lauxmann from the Kornwestheim fire brigade. "We normally use the simulator for training courses for colleagues from other fire departments. Today was new territory and therefore also had a training character for us," continued the expert.
In addition to the tension simulator, four other stations with a wide variety of topics were offered. The foresters were able to share their experiences from the previous season and analyze the current challenges of the drought-damaged situation. In particular, the greatly increased risk due to dry treetops and more frequent storm events was discussed intensively. "We already trained new work techniques last year to ensure optimum work safety even when working in damaged forest stands. Getting feedback from the foresters as to whether and to what extent these techniques and other occupational safety measures we have initiated have borne fruit was a major concern for me today," explained Deputy Head of Department Ralf Zellin, who moderated the station.
At the other stations, the latest scientific findings on silviculture in climate change were passed on, the potential of digitalization for forest management was explained and new planting methods and working techniques were taught. "With the Occupational Safety Day, we are fulfilling our legal obligation to train the foresters we employ annually on the current accident prevention regulations. Above all, however, we create a platform for exchange between the foresters and forestry contractors and bring silvicultural and work process innovations to the area," explains Heimerdingen district manager Steffen Frank, who organizes the work safety day.
