This research was developed with data obtained from 70 fomented farm owners in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil, who were responsible for 90 forest contracts distributed in 22 cities of the State. The area fomented per contract ranged from 1.5 to 100 hectares, being 84.8% of contracts up to 30 ha and 59.8% with mountainous relief. Timber harvesting and log transport were outsourced and carried out by a subcontractor in 70% and 80% of the contracts respectively, whereas in the remaining contracts, they were carried out by the farm owners themselves. Most of the subcontractors were not formally hired with a signed contract. The workers of most contracts with timber harvesting carried out by farm owners were not formally hired and not qualified for the job. Great part of the workers used their own means of transport to the work place. Work accidents occurred in 16.3% of the contracts, with 60% of them taking place during timber harvesting and log transport by the farm owners. Most accidents took place in logging activities and causing injuries mainly to workers' inferior and superior limbs. The workers did not use personal protective equipment in 62.1% of the contracts with timber harvesting carried out by the farm owner and in 23% of outsourced contracts. It was verified lack of first aid materials and training to help injured workers during timber harvesting.
Fomented forest; timber harvesting; work accidents
