safety evaluation of chainsaw operation in clear-cutting of eucalyptus in mountain region

The main objective of this study was the analysis of anthropometric factors of chainsaw operators in clear-cutting of Eucalyptus plantations, in mountain areas, with the purpose to understand the relationship between the somatotype and the productivity variation. The short-wood cutting method was used. The data collection took place on a forest enterprise, on the Vale do Rio Doce region, at the state of Minas Gerais, in Brazil, from October of 1995 to February of 1996. The studied area is inserted in the number 5 bioclimatic region of Minas Gerais, which climate is classified as subtropical humid-subhumid, with an annual average temperature varying from 20 to 23 ^oC; annual average precipitation varying from 1,100 to 1,400 mm and altitude varying from 200 to 900 m, in salience that varies from soft wavy to mountainous. The study covered the safety aspects and injuries, with a sample of 29 chainsaw operators, working in mountain regions. Individual productivity varied from 7.98 to 13.08 m³/day. Falling was the most dangerous daily activity. Legs and feet were the body parts more damaged with 37,4% of the injuries. In the chainsaw operators opinion, most of the accidents are caused by human actions.