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The harvesting, production, and processing of wood (carpentry) is a long-standing traditional industry in our country. Along with the economic, scientific, and technical development of other sectors, the wood harvesting and processing industry has also continuously developed, creating many jobs for workers. Products from wood processing not only meet the demands of the domestic consumer market but are also exported abroad, bringing in significant foreign currency for the country.

There are many craft villages famous for wood production and processing, such as Van Diem, Chang Son, Huu Bang, Canh Dau (formerly Ha Tay, now Hanoi), Dong Ky (Bac Ninh), Van Ha (Hanoi), and Truc Ninh (Nam Dinh). Other craft villages are located in Hue, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Dak Lak, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.

Industrial parks for wood production and processing concentrate many domestic and foreign enterprises, such as those in Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Binh Dinh, and Tay Ninh.

Besides the advantages of creating jobs, providing products for society, and increasing revenue for the state budget, the wood harvesting and processing industry still has limitations that need to be addressed, such as improper harvesting leading to the destruction of protection forests, causing landslides and floods, environmental pollution from the use of chemicals and additives in processing, and non-compliance with occupational safety and health regulations, leading to occupational accidents for workers in production.

To contribute to reducing occupational accidents and diseases for workers and helping the wood harvesting and processing industry develop sustainably, the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has compiled the materials for the occupational safety training course for the work of Industrial Wood Harvesting and Processing and Manual Handling of Heavy Objects of 30kg or more for group 3, according to Decree 44/2016/CP dated May 15, 2016, and Circular 06/2020/BLDTBXH dated August 20, 2020, of the Ministry of Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs.

Table of Contents

PART 1: SOME STATE LEGAL DOCUMENTS REGULATING THE HARVESTING AND PRODUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL WOOD

1. Law on Forestry No. 16/2017/QH14 dated January 15, 2017, effective from January 1, 2019

The law consists of 12 chapters and 108 articles:

Chapter 1: General provisions (from Article 1 to Article 9)
Chapter 2: Forestry planning (from Article 10 to Article 13)
Chapter 3: Forest management (from Article 14 to Article 36)
Chapter 4: Forest protection (from Article 37 to Article 43)
Chapter 5: Forest development (from Article 44 to Article 51)
Chapter 6: Forest use (from Article 52 to Article 65)
Chapter 7: Processing and trade of forest products (from Article 66 to Article 72)
Chapter 8: Rights and obligations of forest owners (from Article 73 to Article 89)
Chapter 9: Forest valuation, financial investment in forestry
Chapter 10: Science, technology, and international cooperation in forestry (from Article 96 to Article 99)
Chapter 11: State management of forestry and forest rangers (from Article 100 to Article 106)
Chapter 12: Implementation provisions (from Article 107 to Article 108)

2. Decree 156/2018/CP dated November 16, 2018, of the Government, effective from January 1, 2019, Detailing a number of articles of the Law on Forestry

The decree consists of 7 chapters and 92 articles:

Chapter 1: General provisions (from Article 1 to Article 3)
Chapter 2: Forest management regulations (from Article 4 to Article 34)
Chapter 3: Forest allocation, forest lease, forest type conversion, conversion of forest use purpose to other purposes, forest recovery (from Article 35 to 44)
Chapter 4: Forest fire prevention and fighting (from Article 45 to Article 56)
Chapter 5: Environmental services, forest protection and development fund (from Article 57 to Article 66)
Chapter 6: Investment and forest development policies (from Article 87 to Article 89)
Chapter 7: Implementation provisions (from Article 90 to Article 92)

3. Circulars and Decisions on the harvesting and processing of industrial wood

Inter-ministerial Circular No. 01/TTLB dated December 22, 1995. Guiding the import and export of some wood and forest products mentioned in Decision 664/TTg dated October 18, 1995, of the Government. Wild plant species in Vietnam listed in Appendices I, II of CITES International.

Circular No. 04/NN/KL-TT dated February 5, 1996, on the implementation of Decree 02/1995/CP dated January 5, 1995. The scope of wild fauna and flora regulated in this circular:
Decision 40/2005/QD-BNN dated July 7, 2005, of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on the promulgation of regulations on timber harvesting.

PART 2: WOOD HARVESTING PROCESS, INDUSTRIAL WOOD PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING PROCESS

I. HARVESTING PROCESS IN THE INDUSTRIAL WOOD INDUSTRY SAFETY DOCUMENT

Article 11. Basis for conducting harvesting design

Location, area, and planned output in the management plan.
Annual harvesting limit for large timber in natural forests, as announced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Forest subjects permitted for harvesting as stipulated in Article 12 of this Regulation and related technical regulations.

Article 12. Forest subjects permitted for harvesting design

Natural timber forests, either pure or mixed species of different ages, not yet harvested, or previously harvested but nurtured for the full duration of the harvesting cycle, and must meet the following standing volume standards:
- Evergreen and semi-deciduous broadleaf forests with a standing volume of:
  - For provinces from Thanh Hoa northwards, over 90m³/ha;
  - For provinces from Nghe An to Thua Thien – Hue, over 110m³/ha;
  - For provinces from Da Nang southwards, 130m³/ha.
- For dipterocarp forests, a standing volume of over 100 m³/ha.
- For coniferous forests, a standing volume of over 130m³/ha.
  - Forest subjects specified in points a, b, and c of clause 1 of this article must have a standing volume of trees meeting the harvestable diameter class in the plot greater than 30% of the total standing volume of that plot;
- For mixed timber forests with bamboo, the timber standing volume must be:
  - For provinces from Thanh Hoa northwards, over 50m³/ha;
  - For provinces from Nghe An southwards, over 70m³/ha.
Natural timber forests of pure, even-aged species that have reached technological maturity.

Article 13. Duties of units permitted for harvesting design

Units permitted for harvesting design
- Harvesting design organizations of forestry enterprises or localities with the function of designing natural forest timber harvesting, as stipulated in the business registration license issued by a competent authority;
- Design organizations belonging to the Forest Inventory and Planning Institute, or forestry technical schools.
- The head of the design unit is legally responsible for the quality and accuracy of the harvesting design documents prepared by the unit.
Main duties of the harvesting design unit
- To strictly comply with the provisions of Articles 11, 12, and 14 of this Regulation;
- To correctly identify trees that meet harvesting standards as stipulated in clauses 1 and 2 of Article 16 of the Regulation (QPN14-92);
- To mark trees for felling with a marking hammer according to the regulations on management and use of tree marking hammers of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;
- To fully follow the sequence of steps for preparing harvesting design documents as stipulated in Article 15 of this regulation;
- The permissible error in output between the design documents and the actual acceptance volume by the forest owner is ± 15% (calculated for the entire harvesting area).

Article 14. Main technical indicators in harvesting design

Harvesting method
- Selective logging for forest types specified in clause 1 of Article 12 of this Regulation;
- Clearcutting, or selective logging to convert to an uneven-aged forest for the forest specified in clause 2 of Article 12 of this Regulation.
The harvesting cycle is implemented according to clause 3 of Article 8 of this Regulation.
Harvesting intensity: calculated as the percentage (%) of the standing volume of trees marked for felling in the plot to the standing volume of the plot before harvesting and is regulated as follows:
- Harvesting intensity does not include thinning and felling damage.
- For evergreen broadleaf forests, semi-deciduous forests, and coniferous forests managed for large timber, the harvesting intensity is regulated as follows:
  - Standing volume class from 91 – 150m³/ha, intensity from 18-23%
  - Standing volume class from 151 – 200m³/ha, intensity from 24 – 28%
  - Standing volume class from 201 – 300m³/ha, intensity from 29 – 33%
  - Standing volume class over 300m³/ha, intensity from 34 – 38%
- For mixed timber-bamboo forests, the intensity is from 25 – 30%.
- For dipterocarp forests, the harvesting intensity is increased by one level compared to the standing volume classes mentioned above.
- The harvesting intensity specified in point a of this clause is determined for harvesting plots with a slope of 15° or less. For slopes greater than 15°, the harvesting intensity must be reduced as follows: if the slope increases by 1°-2°, the harvesting intensity must be reduced by 1%.
The minimum diameter of timber trees to be harvested for forests managed for large timber is regulated as follows:
- For provinces from Thanh Hoa northwards
  - Timber group I and II = 45 cm
  - Timber group III to VI = 40 cm
  - Timber group VII and VIII = 30 cm
- For provinces from Nghe An to Thua Thien Hue
  - Timber group I and II = 50 cm
  - Timber group III to VI = 45 cm
  - Timber group VII and VIII = 35 cm
- For provinces from Da Nang southwards
  - Timber group I and II = 50 cm
  - Timber group III to VI = 45 cm
  - Timber group VII and VIII = 40 cm
- For coniferous forests, the minimum diameter allowed for harvesting is 40 cm, and for dipterocarp species in dipterocarp forests, it is 35 cm.
Utilization rate
- The utilization rate is calculated as the percentage of the volume of products extracted compared to the total volume of the tree stem (standing tree volume), specifically as follows:
  - Large timber: is the trunk log from the stump cut to the cut below the branches. Depending on the means of transport, the trunk can be cut into several sections to be skidded to the landing; the unit of measurement is m³;
  - Salvaged wood: is the part of branches and tops with a small-end diameter of 25 cm or more, or trunk logs that are hollow for their entire length, with a hollow diameter accounting for 40% to 70% of the log’s diameter; the unit of measurement is m³;
  - Firewood: is the part of branches, tops, and hollow trunk logs not covered by the provisions of point b, clause 5 of this Article; the unit of measurement is m³, or
  - Depending on the characteristics of the felled species, terrain conditions, transport distance, and marketability, the utilization rate is designed within the following limits:
    - Large timber: 60% or more
    - Salvaged wood: 10% or more
    - Firewood: 5% or more
- In case of thinning or forest sanitation, the volume of salvaged products is recorded separately in the harvesting product list, and trees with a diameter (D_1.3) of 25 cm or more are marked.
- For trees felled along extraction and transport routes and at landings, if the trunk log has a small-end diameter of 25 cm or more, it is counted as large timber, and if less than 25 cm, it is counted as salvaged wood.

Article 15. Main content of harvesting design work

Forest verification: before designing the harvest, forest verification must be conducted with the following content:
- Preliminary survey: survey the terrain, describe in detail the elevation, slope, river and stream system, etc.; determine the location of the sub-zone permitted for harvesting; determine the forest status and compare the map with the field to make appropriate additions;
- Divide plots and compartments in the field (for large timber business, the plot area is from 5-10 ha, in special cases decided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development);
- Clear the boundary lines of plots and compartments, survey and create a 1/5,000 scale map of the harvesting area. Plot boundary lines are 1m wide, compartment boundary lines are 1.5m wide, and paint marks are made on trees on the boundary line on opposite sides of the plot, compartment, and sub-zone with the following symbols: plot boundary marked with 1 horizontal paint line, compartment boundary marked with 2 parallel horizontal paint lines, sub-zone boundary marked with 3 parallel horizontal paint lines;
- Install plot and compartment marker posts and record the names of the plots and compartments (for compartments, use Arabic numerals; for plots, use letters of the Vietnamese alphabet);
- Establish standard plots (total area of standard plots is at least 2% of the total design area) to collect data on height, diameter, standing volume, canopy cover, species composition, total number of trees, total number of trees meeting the harvestable diameter class… and to estimate the harvesting intensity.
Field design
- Based on the harvesting intensity and minimum diameter allowed for harvesting as stipulated in Article 14 of this Regulation, proceed to mark trees for felling that meet the harvesting standards (do not mark trees that are prohibited from being harvested or used according to government regulations), thinning trees, and trees that must be felled for extraction and transport routes and landings. The technique of marking trees with a hammer is carried out according to the regulations on the management and use of tree marking hammers of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
- Measure the marked trees.
  - Measure the diameter or circumference of the tree at a position 1.3 m from the base (D_1.3) for each tree, and record the data on the tree marking sheet.
  - Determine the top height and name of the tree, and record the collected data on the tree marking sheet.
  - The measurement of marked trees includes those on transport and extraction routes and at landings with a D_1.3 of 25 cm or more.
  - If the tree name cannot be identified, write the symbol “SP” on the tree marking sheet, and classify it into an appropriate group based on its characteristics, as decided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
- Determine the type of extraction and transport, select the location, and plan for production facilities in the harvesting area, including the network of extraction and transport routes, the system of landings, and other auxiliary works, but must ensure that the felling of trees for construction is minimized.
- The determination of the landing location must follow the principle of ensuring a reasonable extraction and transport distance to maximize the productivity of the equipment, be accessible for delivery even in the rainy season, and be convenient for management, inspection, and supervision by functional agencies.
Office calculations in the industrial wood industry safety document
- Calculate the main forestry indicators by plot, compartment, and sub-zone;
- Based on the survey sheet, calculate the standing tree volume and large timber output; the calculated data are then aggregated by plot, compartment, and sub-zone;
- Determine the harvesting intensity to comply with the provisions of clause 3 of Article 14 of this Regulation; if it does not comply, the number of marked trees in the field must be adjusted;
- Calculate the commercial output by species, diameter class, and timber group;
- Calculate the production facilities in the harvesting area such as extraction and transport routes, landings, etc.;
- Develop a production plan for each forest owner, including the network of extraction and transport routes, the system of landings, calculation of production costs (labor or capital investment per unit of product); estimate resource taxes, funds to be reinvested in silviculture, plan the volume of silvicultural work, and estimate production costs;
- The volume of timber harvested from extraction and transport routes and landings is recorded separately in the harvesting product list and is not included in the large timber harvesting target of the annual plan.
The measurement and calculation methods are implemented according to the current methods of the Forest Inventory and Planning Institute.
Prepare harvesting design documents according to the regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Acceptance of the field design is carried out by the forest owner (or by hiring an independent consulting unit by agreement). The content of the field design acceptance includes: location, area, output, and forest subjects included in the design must be in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation; the rationality of the extraction route system, landings, and the quality of marked trees. The acceptance results are recorded in a report evaluating whether the quality of the field design meets the requirements. The head of the acceptance unit is legally responsible for the content of the unit’s acceptance. The detailed content of the acceptance work is specifically guided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Article 16. Approval of harvesting design documents for forest owners

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development organizes the approval of harvesting design documents for each forest owner according to the following regulated content:

Forest subjects permitted for harvesting;
Permitted harvesting location, specifying the sub-zone, compartment, and plot;
Harvesting area by sub-zone, compartment, and plot;
Permitted harvesting output, including large timber, salvaged wood, and firewood by sub-zone, compartment, and plot;
Timber types by group, diameter class, and species;
Basic construction indicators, estimated labor costs or harvesting and product consumption costs;
Silvicultural indicators;
The landing system as stipulated in point c of clause 2 of Article 15 of this Regulation for forest owners, simultaneously notifying the Forest Protection Sub-Department to serve as a basis for stamping logs at the landing and publicly announcing the approval results for public monitoring and supervision.

The Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible to the provincial People’s Committee and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for the technical indicators of the approved harvesting documents.

Article 17. Procedures for submission, approval, and issuance of decisions to open forests for harvesting

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development compiles the harvesting design documents for the entire province and sends them to the Forestry Department for appraisal and to open the forest.
Based on the decision to open the forest by the Forestry Department, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announces, directs, and guides the forest owners to organize implementation.
- The decision to open the forest for harvesting is sent to the Forest Protection Sub-Department and the district-level People’s Committee for inspection and supervision during implementation.
Harvesting design documents
- The harvesting design documents are regulated as follows:
  - The overall harvesting design and business production plan for the entire province (in which the table of main forestry indicators and the detailed table of locations and outputs are detailed for each plot);
  - The decision to approve the harvesting design and production plan for the forest owners by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development;
  - A report on the implementation over 10 months and an estimated implementation of the previous year’s harvesting plan regarding the indicators specified in the harvesting design documents;
The Forestry Department is assigned to issue the system of forms for the forest management plan, harvesting design documents, and various types of acceptance, inspection, and handover reports for the forest before and after harvesting.

Article 18. Regulations during the harvesting process

Conditions for organizing harvesting: the forest owner is only allowed to proceed with harvesting after receiving the decision to open the forest for harvesting.
Forms of harvesting organization: the forest owner has the right to proactively organize harvesting in strict accordance with the content of the decision to open the forest for harvesting and current regulations.
Handover of the harvesting area: the forest owner prepares a handover report for the harvesting unit (if contracted for harvesting) or member unit (if self-harvesting), regarding the harvesting design documents, the decision to open the forest for harvesting, and the site (boundaries of the harvesting area by plot, compartment, sub-zone; system of marker posts, tree marking hammer marks; total number of marked trees, network of extraction and transport routes, location of proposed landings).
Preparation for harvesting
- Before harvesting, the harvesting unit must carry out the following tasks:
  - Comprehensive or partial undergrowth clearing (except for dipterocarp forests) to ensure safety during the harvesting process;
  - Constructing new or repairing extraction and transport routes and landings within the harvesting area.
Organization of harvesting
- Harvesting must be in the permitted location;
- Fell only the trees marked for felling, and harvesting must be concentrated and completed plot by plot; harvested timber with marking hammer marks is accepted based on actual volume for forest ranger stamping;
- After felling, proceed immediately with bucking, and trimming branches and tops; the number of logs cut must correspond to the felled tree that has the marking hammer mark;
- As harvesting proceeds, the forest owner must organize immediate extraction to the landing, measure and mark each log end with a serial number using paint, create a log list for each log according to the serial number on the log end, and calculate the volume of large timber. The permissible error (calculated for the entire harvesting area) between the total volume of harvested timber according to the log list prepared by the forest owner and the total volume of large timber in the design documents is 15%;
- The maximum stump height (measured from the ground) shall not exceed 1 time the diameter of the cut surface of the remaining stump;
- After extracting the timber to the landing, the forest owner reports to the local Forest Protection Unit to have the logs stamped by the forest rangers according to the provisions of point g, clause 1 of Article 19 of this Regulation for circulation;
- Felling must be in accordance with the technical procedures specified in the Technical Regulation (QPN 14-92).
Forest sanitation: after finishing the harvest, the forest owner must immediately cut down fallen and broken trees that occurred during felling, thinning trees, and clean the forest. The products obtained are added to the volume of salvaged wood from the main harvest. Forest sanitation must be completed within the timber harvesting period specified in clause 8 of this Article.
Handover of the forest after harvesting: after completing the harvest, the harvesting unit must hand over the forest to the forest owner at the site, accompanied by a forest handover report.
Harvesting period: regulated from the date of the decision to open the forest until March 31 of the following year.

Article 19. Acceptance and closing of the forest after harvesting

Post-harvest forest inspection: after the completion of harvesting, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development or an authorized Forestry Sub-Department, in coordination with the forest owner and the harvesting unit, organizes a site inspection, prepares an acceptance report, and evaluates the harvesting based on the following content:
- The implementation results compared to the design documents and the decision to open the forest for harvesting regarding location, area, output, extraction and transport route system, and landings;
- Based on the indicators specified in this Regulation, evaluate the harvesting technique such as stump height, the rate of fallen and broken trees and their handling after harvesting, timber utilization, number of unmarked trees felled, number of marked trees not felled..;
- Regarding undergrowth clearing and forest sanitation;
- Comments and evaluation of the implementation of harvesting according to the provisions of this Regulation and handling of violations according to current regulations;
- Stamping by forest rangers;
  - Based on the results of tree marking by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development or the Forestry Sub-Department; the local Forest Protection Unit compares the serial numbers of logs, sections, and trees that have the marking hammer marks with the serial numbers in the log list prepared by the forest owner (without re-measuring) and stamps them with the forest ranger’s hammer according to current regulations for circulation.
The forest owner is legally responsible for the accuracy of the log list they have prepared when the timber is put on the market.
Closing the forest after harvesting
- Based on the post-harvest inspection report, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development announces the closing of the harvested forest;
- After the announcement of the forest closure, the forest owner prepares records of the forest area (year of harvest, forest condition after harvest…) to be put under management and protection;
- The forest closure announcement is sent to the district-level People’s Committee and the local Forest Protection Unit for monitoring, and also sent to the Forestry Department for compilation.

II. SALVAGE LOGGING IN PRODUCTION FORESTS THAT ARE NATURAL FORESTS IN THE INDUSTRIAL WOOD INDUSTRY SAFETY DOCUMENT

Article 20. Forest subjects for salvage logging

Forest areas that must be converted for other purposes and have been approved by a competent state agency according to the provisions of the Land Law and the Law on Forest Protection and Development.
Forests located on timber extraction and transport routes and at landings during the main harvest.
Standing, scattered trees remaining on permanent agricultural land, permitted for salvage logging by the district-level People’s Committee.
Standing dead, dry dead, and fire-killed timber trees in production forests, allocated by the State to households, individuals, and village communities for management, protection, and benefit-sharing according to Government regulations, permitted for salvage logging by the district-level People’s Committee.

Article 21. Design content and submission procedures

Design content
- For organizations and enterprises
  - Clearly define the boundaries and area by plot, compartment, and sub-zone; – Measure and mark all trees with a diameter of 25cm or more;
  - Calculate the volume of main products by size and timber group;
  - Estimate the volume of small timber and firewood that can be salvaged;
  - Prepare salvage logging documents.
- For households, individuals, and village residential communities: Only a statistical list of the number of trees and an estimated salvage output is needed.
Submission procedures
- For forest subjects specified in clause 2 of Article 20: designed and submitted for approval simultaneously with the main natural forest timber harvesting design documents;
- For the remaining forest subjects
  - The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development approves the harvesting design documents and issues a salvage logging permit to the forest owner, who is an organization or enterprise.
  - The district-level People’s Committee issues a harvesting permit to the forest owner, who is a household, individual, or village residential community.
For salvage logging of forest subjects specified in Article 20 of this Regulation, if it is a planted forest, the sequence of harvesting design approval is as follows:
- For forests owned by an organization, the harvesting design and submission procedures are carried out according to the provisions of clauses 2 and 3 of Article 27 of this Regulation.
- For forests owned by a household, individual, or village residential community, only a statistical list of the number of trees, area, and output needs to be submitted to the commune-level People’s Committee for harvesting permission.

Article 22. Principles during the salvage logging process

Salvage logging must comply with procedures and regulations to ensure regeneration, minimize impact on remaining trees, and not open new extraction, transport routes, and landings but must utilize existing works or trails for extraction and transport.
Salvage logging must be at the correct location, area, and subject as approved and permitted by the competent authority. It is strictly forbidden to take advantage by cutting timber from elsewhere and bringing it into the permitted salvage logging area.
After harvesting, the timber is accepted based on actual volume and stamped by the forest rangers according to regulations before transportation. The method of acceptance and stamping by forest rangers is as specified in point g of clause 1 of Article 19 of this Regulation.

III. COLLECTION OF FALLEN TIMBER IN PRODUCTION FORESTS THAT ARE NATURAL FORESTS (abbreviated as collection)

Article 23. Subject and location of collection

This includes all types of dry, heartwood, and fire-damaged timber of all sizes and species, currently located on production forest land, permitted for collection by the provincial-level People’s Committee (for organizations and enterprises) or the district-level People’s Committee (for households, individuals, and village residential communities).

Article 24. Collection documents, submission procedures

Preparation of collection documents
- After being granted permission for collection by the competent authority as stipulated in this regulation, the forest owner proceeds to collect in each plot. The timber is gathered at the plot, compartment, and sub-zone boundaries, then a specific inventory of the number of logs, sections, trees, and planks is made; dimensions are measured, and the volume is calculated by timber species for each plot, compartment, and sub-zone; logs, sections, and timber trees with a small-end diameter of 25cm or more and wooden planks with a thickness of 10cm or more are marked with a marking hammer, while the rest not meeting these specifications are marked with paint; a list of the trees, logs, sections, and planks with marking hammer marks is created, and the volume of the remaining timber is estimated.
Submission procedures
- The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development approves the design documents and issues a collection permit to the forest owner, who is an organization or enterprise; the district-level People’s Committee issues a collection permit to households, individuals, and village residential communities.
Organization of collection
- - Collection must be at the correct location, area, and subject as permitted by the competent authority;
  - If collecting in a former harvesting site, new roads must not be opened, but existing roads must be used;
  - It is strictly forbidden to take advantage by bringing timber from elsewhere into the permitted collection area.
Collected timber is accepted based on actual volume and stamped by forest rangers for timber subjects according to current regulations for circulation. The method of acceptance and stamping by forest rangers is as specified in point g of clause 1 of Article 19 of this Regulation.

IV. HARVESTING OF NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS IN PRODUCTION FORESTS THAT ARE NATURAL FORESTS

Article 25. Harvesting of bamboo

Forest subjects for harvesting: bamboo forests with a canopy cover of over 70% and with the number of old and mature culms being over 40% of the total number of culms.
Technical indicators
- Harvesting cycle of 2 – 4 years;
- Harvesting intensity from 1/4 to 2/3 of the culms;
- For clumping species, at least 10 culms must be left in each clump;
- Age of harvested culms over 2 years.
Harvesting design
- Demarcate boundaries, and install plot and compartment marker posts in the field;
- Create a 1/5000 scale map of the harvesting area;
- Clearly define the location and area of harvesting;
- Count the number of culms;
- Calculate the harvesting output by the number of culms or convert to tons for each plot and aggregate by compartment and sub-zone.
Submission procedures
- The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development approves the documents and issues a harvesting permit to forest owners who are provincial organizations; the Company or General Corporation approves and issues a harvesting permit to forest owners who are members of the company or General Corporation; the district-level People’s Committee issues a harvesting permit to forest owners who are households, individuals, or village residential communities; the harvesting permit is sent to the local Forest Protection Unit for supervision during implementation.

Article 26. Harvesting and collection of forest products other than timber and bamboo

Harvesting and collection of forest products other than timber and bamboo are permitted (except for rare and endangered species prohibited from being harvested or used according to Government regulations), but must ensure that it does not significantly affect the growth and development of each species. The harvesting and collection are decided by the forest owner (for forests under the management of the commune-level People’s Committee, the commune-level People’s Committee issues the permit for harvesting and collection), and the harvested and collected products can be freely circulated.

V. HARVESTING TIMBER FROM PLANTED PRODUCTION FORESTS, FOREST GARDENS, AND NATURAL FORESTS UNDER REGENERATION BY FOREST OWNERS WHO HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED LAND BY COMPETENT STATE AGENCIES FOR MANAGEMENT, PROTECTION, AND USE FOR FORESTRY PURPOSES

Article 27. Harvesting of concentrated planted forests by State organizations using budget funds or non-refundable aid

Technical indicators
- Harvesting age: determined depending on the tree species, quality requirements, product specifications, and forest business purpose, and decided by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (if the unit is under the province), or the Company, General Corporation (if the unit is not under the province), upon the proposal of the forest owner;
- Harvesting method: decided by the forest owner, but must ensure replanting of the forest immediately after the next season;
- Utilization rate
  - Raw material timber from 70 – 80%
  - Firewood from 10 – 15%.
Harvesting documents: the preparation of harvesting documents includes the following content:
- Determine the location and area of the harvesting site;
- Determine the age, standing volume, utilization rate, and output;
- Create a 1/5,000 scale map of the harvesting area;
- Develop a reforestation plan;
- Compile the harvesting documents.
Procedure for issuing a harvesting permit
- For provincial organizations and enterprises, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development approves the documents and issues the harvesting permit;
- For units not under the province, the Company or General Corporation appraises the documents for the forest owner who is a member of the Company or General Corporation and submits them to the parent ministry for permission. The harvested timber can be freely sold and circulated.

Article 28. Harvesting of planted forests, garden timber, and scattered trees by forest owners who are organizations or enterprises that have self-invested or taken preferential loans

Harvesting age
- If the forest owner has self-funded the planting, the harvesting age is decided by the forest owner;
- If the forest was planted using state loans (at normal or preferential interest rates) or loans from other organizations guaranteed by the state, the harvesting age and harvesting documents are implemented according to clauses 1 and 2 of Article 27 of this Regulation.
Harvesting procedure
- For forests harvested as specified in point a, clause 1 of this Article, the forest owner decides;
- For forests harvested as specified in point b, clause 1 of this Article, the procedure is as follows:
  - If the forest owner is a provincial organization or enterprise, the district-level People’s Committee issues the harvesting permit;
  - If the forest owner is a member of a Company or General Corporation not under the province, the Company or General Corporation issues the harvesting permit;

Article 29. Harvesting of planted forests by households, individuals, and village residential communities using aid funds or state budget funds

Harvesting of planted forests using aid funds or state budget funds: implemented according to the specific regulations of each project; the forest owner only needs to provide statistics on the location, area, and estimated output to the district-level People’s Committee for a decision.

Article 30. Tending felling (thinning) for planted forests

In cases where there is no collection of forest products, the forest owner decides.
In cases where there is a collection of forest products
- For forests planted with budget funds or preferential loans, the following regulations apply:
  - Technique: implemented according to the procedures and regulations for thinning and tending forests;
  - Procedure for thinning harvest: decided by the forest owner.
For forests planted with the owner’s own funds: the owner has autonomy in implementation and can freely sell and circulate the products.

Article 31. Harvesting timber from naturally regenerated forests that the forest owner has self-invested in

In the case of natural regeneration on unforested land
- Harvesting for the owner’s household timber needs: the owner only needs to report to the local commune-level People’s Committee;
- Commercial harvesting: When the forest reaches harvesting standards, the owner submits an application and a list of the trees to be felled, and reports to the commune-level People’s Committee for confirmation to harvest and sell.
In the case of natural regeneration on forested land
- If harvesting for on-site use, the provisions of point a, clause 1 of this Article apply. If harvesting for commercial purposes, the owner submits an application and a list of the trees to be felled, and reports to the commune-level People’s Committee for confirmation as a basis for the district-level People’s Committee to issue a harvesting permit. The harvested timber can be freely sold.
For timber harvested according to the provisions of this article, it can be freely circulated and sold.

PART 3: HARVESTING OF TIMBER AND NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS IN PROTECTION FORESTS

Article 32. General provisions

All forest product harvesting activities in protection forests must adhere to the principle of maintaining and developing the protective capacity of the forest. All forest product harvesting activities that reduce forest capital and the protective capacity of the forest are strictly prohibited.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development may temporarily suspend the harvesting of natural forest timber in protection forests due to the requirements of protection and environmental conservation.

Article 33. Harvesting timber in protection forests that are natural forests

Subject
- Harvesting of dry dead, fire-killed, fallen, broken, and top-broken trees and collection of fallen timber of the subjects specified in Article 23 of this Regulation is permitted to facilitate natural regeneration.
Submission procedure
- The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development or an authorized Forestry Sub-Department approves and issues a permit (for organizations), and the district-level People’s Committee issues a permit (for households, individuals, and communities).

Article 34. Harvesting timber for protection forests under natural regeneration

In the case of harvesting for forests invested by the State, the provisions of Article 33 of this Regulation apply.
In the case of harvesting for forests that the owner has been allocated or contracted and has self-invested in, the following regulations apply:
- Regardless of whether it is a very critical or critical protection zone, when the forest reaches harvesting standards, selective logging with a maximum intensity of 30% is permitted (excluding rare and endangered timber species prohibited from being harvested or used according to Government regulations).
- Regarding the submission procedure
  - If harvesting to meet household timber needs, the owner submits an application for a harvesting permit to the commune-level People’s Committee.
  - If harvesting for commercial purposes
    - If the owner is an organization, they must prepare harvesting design documents and submit them to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for approval and issuance of a harvesting permit;
    - If the owner is a household, individual, or village residential community, they only need to provide a statistical list of the number of trees, area, and output for the commune-level People’s Committee to confirm as a basis for the district-level People’s Committee to issue a harvesting permit.

- - Harvested timber can be freely circulated after being stamped by forest rangers.

Article 35. Harvesting of bamboo and other non-timber forest products in protection forests that are natural forests

For bamboo forests, harvesting is only permitted when the forest reaches a canopy cover of over 80%.
The maximum harvesting intensity is 30%, and bamboo shoots may be harvested.
Regarding the design, submission, and harvesting procedures, the provisions of clause 4 of Article 25 of this Regulation apply.
Harvesting of other non-timber forest products is permitted (except for rare and endangered species prohibited from being harvested or used according to Government regulations), but must not affect the protective capacity of the forest. The harvesting is decided by the forest owner (if harvesting in a forest under the management of the commune-level People’s Committee, the commune-level People’s Committee issues the permit).

Article 36. Harvesting of planted protection forests

For forests invested by the State, harvesting of auxiliary trees and thinning are permitted when the forest is dense. The harvesting intensity does not exceed 20%, and the canopy cover after thinning must be greater than or equal to 0.6. When the forest canopy closes, auxiliary trees may be harvested, but it must be ensured that at least 600 main crop trees/ha remain; if this is not sufficient, auxiliary trees must be left according to the density regulations for the main crop. When the main crop reaches harvesting age, selective logging with an intensity of no more than 20% is permitted annually, or clearcutting in strips or small patches with an area of less than 1 ha for critical protection forests and less than 0.5 ha for very critical protection forests is permitted; the total harvesting area does not exceed 1/10 of the planted forest area that has become a forest, and the forest must be replanted immediately in the next season.
For planted forests invested by the management board or by the contracted party, when the forest reaches harvesting age, no more than 1/10 of the area of the planted forest that has become a forest may be harvested each year. Harvesting method: felling in strips or patches; the strips or patches must not be adjacent, have an area of no more than 1.0 ha in very critical areas and no more than 2 ha in critical areas, and the forest must be replanted immediately in the next season.
Harvesting indicators: the harvesting age and the preparation of harvesting design documents are implemented according to the provisions of Article 27 of this Regulation.
Permit issuance procedure
- For subjects under clause 1 of this article, the provisions of clause 3 of Article 27 of this regulation apply.
- For subjects under clause 2 of this article, the provisions of clause 4 of Article 25 of this regulation apply.

Article 37. Salvage logging in protection forests when converting forest use purpose

The forest subjects permitted for harvesting are implemented according to the provisions of clause 1 of Article 20 of this Regulation.
The sequence and procedures for harvesting are implemented according to the provisions of Article 21 of this Regulation.

PART 4: WOOD PROCESSING PROCEDURE IN THE INDUSTRIAL WOOD INDUSTRY SAFETY DOCUMENT

Before production, wood needs to be processed into finished products. The wood processing process is divided into two types: natural wood and industrial wood.

A. Natural Wood Product Processing Procedure in the Industrial Wood Industry Safety Document

For natural wood products, the processing procedure includes the following steps:

Step 1: Selecting natural wood as input material

Select natural wood
Not just any type of wood is selected for processing and production into finished wood products. Because the characteristics of each type of wood are different, their applications also differ. Therefore, units need to select wood as the input material for the production process.

Step 2: Sawing wood into planks of required dimensions

This is one of the important stages in the wood product processing and production process. Because the input material is large rough wood blocks. To facilitate the production process, rough wood needs to be sawn into planks or boards of different sizes depending on the intended use.
The sawing stage requires skilled sawyers with a steady hand to ensure the planks are free of defects and to avoid wood waste. At the same time, this stage also requires the production unit to invest in a modern system of machinery and equipment to reduce manual labor and improve work efficiency.

Step 3: Wood drying

Drying wood to prevent termites and warping
If natural wood is not dried, it can easily become damp and infested with termites, which reduces the lifespan of the wood. Therefore, the wood production process cannot do without the wood drying stage. In this stage, after sawing, the wood is soaked in a specialized chemical to prevent termites and then put into a steam kiln. During the drying process, a standard temperature must be maintained to prevent the wood from warping or cracking. The wood is not completely dried but must maintain a moisture content of 15%.

Step 4: Sorting and classifying wood

After drying, the wood is sorted and classified based on various criteria such as smoothness, size, and color. Classification makes it easier for users to choose the right type of wood for the production process.

B. Industrial Wood Processing Procedure in the Industrial Wood Industry Safety Document

Industrial wood processing procedure

For industrial wood, the wood product production process is carried out according to the following steps.

Step 1: Selecting wood for production

Industrial wood is often selected from types such as acacia and pine. These are the two most common types of wood processed into industrial wood.

Step 2: Slicing thin and grinding to create wood-based panels

After selection, the wood is sliced thin and ground to make HDF, MFC, and MDF panels.

Step 3: Wood pulp is mixed with glue and anti-termite additives and pressed into panels

Pressing industrial wood into panels
After being ground, the wood pulp is mixed with anti-termite additives and adhesive. After the wood pulp is mixed with glue and additives, it is pressed into wood panels. The pressing process must ensure high temperature and pressure to ensure the solid structure of the wood.

Step 4: Surface treatment, creating grain patterns, and applying a glossy finish

Creating grain patterns and applying a glossy finish to the industrial wood surface
After pressing, the industrial wood undergoes surface treatment, grain creation, and a glossy finish to create an aesthetic appeal. Industrial wood is often coated with a transparent Melamine Resin to resist scratches and preserve the color and beautiful wood grain patterns.

Step 5: Cutting and routing the edges of the industrial wood

After the surface treatment, grain creation, and glossy finish, the wood is cut to specified dimensions. At the same time, the edges of the wood panels are routed.

Step 6: Inspecting the finished product

Checking the quality of the finished product before putting it into production.

Grinding wood is one of the steps in producing pressed wood.

C. Plywood Manufacturing Process in the Industrial Wood Industry Safety Document

1. Plywood manufacturing standards in the industrial wood industry safety document

Plywood manufacturing needs to adhere to the following standards:

After being dried, the wood panel must be strictly stored for a minimum period. At the same time, it must have a moisture content ranging from 6-8%
Wood pressing must meet the recommended national standards
The wood panel pressing process must follow the correct sequence and be closely monitored. Steps must not be skipped or shortened, which would lead to poor quality products.

2. Plywood manufacturing process in the industrial wood industry safety document

Step 1: Harvesting and selecting wood

In this stage, suitable wood types are selected for rapid production (e.g., softwood or hardwood). Then, the logs are trimmed, taking only the trunk, while the leaves and branches are collected and brought to the factory for later processing.

Step 2: Pre-processing the wood

After bringing the logs back, they are soaked in a water pond for a while. The purpose of this is to make it easier for the machine to peel the bark from the trunk faster and to simplify the slicing process.

Step 3: Proceeding with wood production

The implementation of plywood production involves the following 10 steps:

STEP	IMPLEMENTATION
Step 1	Peel the wood bark and cut the wood into logs of a common required size.
Step 2	The wood piece will be put into a cutting machine to create wood pieces with a uniform thickness.
Step 3	Next, the wood panels will be placed on a separate cutting line to cut the finished product into different sizes.
Step 4	To achieve the specified moisture content, the wood panel must be put into a drying machine.
Step 5	Check for defects on the wood panel using modern machine scanning technology. At the same time, repair defects on each panel to achieve a more standard and accurate wood product.
Step 6	Clean and evenly coat both sides of the panel with adhesive. At the same time, stack them on top of each other according to the desired thickness to get the expected wood panel.
Step 7	Continue to put the panel into a cold press to flatten it and ensure the glue is evenly distributed.
Step 8	Apply hot pressing to the panel for a predetermined time to create a strong bond between the wood sheets.
Step 9	When the hot pressing is complete, let the pressed wood panel cool down before putting it into a cutting and sanding machine to remove hard edges. This also helps to further smoothen the wood surface.
Step 10	Final quality check of the product to assess whether the wood panel has met the required quality standards.
Step 11	Package, store, and transport to the necessary places.

D. SAFETY WHEN USING WOODWORKING MACHINERY IN THE INDUSTRIAL WOOD INDUSTRY SAFETY DOCUMENT

1. Tools for wood production in the industrial wood industry safety document

To produce wood quickly and save time, you need to prepare the following tools:

Drill: Helps the craftsman to drill holes in the wood firmly, accurately, quickly, and more easily without damaging the wood surface around the hole.
Saw: An indispensable tool in wood production, it can cut, rip, or saw wood very easily, no matter how hard it is. At the same time, the device also provides professional wood shaping, with flexibility and safety.
Wood planer: A specialized device for planing wood for types that require a high degree of flatness, as well as the desired thickness.
Sander: Used to sand the wood surface to make it beautiful, neat, and have the desired gloss and smoothness according to the user’s needs.
Polisher: Used to beautify the wood surface to create beautiful, high-quality wood products.
Router: Helps to quickly and easily mill some flat surfaces of the wood, such as inclined or vertical surfaces, or to mill grooves.

2. Toolbox in the industrial wood industry safety document

Helps you to store wood production and manufacturing tools quickly and better, avoiding loss and making them easy to find when needed.
The three types of machines that cause most occupational accidents in wood workshops are: the wood planer, the table saw, and the vertical router. If the machine is not carefully guarded, you can touch dangerous parts and suffer serious injuries, sometimes leading to the loss of a finger or an upper limb.
After turning off the machine, the blade and saw blade continue to operate. We can reduce the risk of contact with the operating blade and saw blade if the machine is well-guarded and equipped with a brake that helps these parts stop in a short time, ideally 10 seconds.
All workers operating woodworking machinery must be properly trained, understand the potential risks, and know how to operate the machine safely.

3. Wood planer in the industrial wood industry safety document

To prevent accidents from contact with the cutting part – Make sure the wood planer has a sturdy protective guard for the entire cutting blade. This protective guard must be easy to adjust, for example, without needing tools to adjust it.
To minimize contact with the cutting part and eliminate the possibility of touching the cutting blade – Adjust the guard as close as possible to the piece of wood being worked on.
To maintain a distance between the hands and the cutting part – Use a push block when working with small pieces of wood. Use a push stick if necessary to keep hands at a safe distance.

Note: Guarding the cutting part and following a safe system of work is paramount. For a two-bladed cutter, this machine can make 10,000 cutting movements in one minute, so if a hand comes into contact with the cutting blade, a finger will be cut 16 times in 1/10 of a second.

4. Table saw in the industrial wood industry safety document

A table saw has the following parts: A riving knife, and a blade guard that can be lowered close to the workpiece. These parts help prevent the piece of wood from kicking back towards you and prevent direct contact with the saw blade.

When using a table saw, you need to maintain a distance between your hands and the saw blade. If you have to work within a distance of 30cm, you need to use a push stick at least 45cm long with a notch at the end. This tool helps ensure your hands stay away from the moving saw blade.
Carefully consider the job before starting to decide which protective equipment you need to use to minimize the risk of contact with the cutting blade.
To avoid the case of a finger touching the cutting blade that is still operating after the machine has been turned off – Consider equipping a brake to stop the cutting blade in a short time, ideally 10 seconds.
Use a device that limits debris from flying off the cutting blade; this device helps reduce the risk of material kicking back and limits serious injuries.

These types of machines can be used to perform many different types of work. Depending on the activity you are performing, you may need to use various forms of protection. No single guarding method can protect you in every situation. In most cases, the cutting blade needs to be highly guarded, and in cases where the cutting blade is not well-guarded, you need to use jigs and hand tools.

5. Wood dust in the industrial wood industry safety document

The operation of machinery in the workshop often produces a lot of wood dust. These types of wood dust are very harmful. Why?

Wood dust can be the cause of bronchial asthma, dermatitis, and cancer.
Being flammable, wood dust can cause fires or explosions.
Wood dust can make the floor slippery.
Inform workers about the risks of inhaling wood dust and the preventive measures to be taken. This ensures that all workers understand the risks and what needs to be controlled to always ensure their health.
Use a dust extraction system connected to the machine to collect dust when the machine is operating. By cleaning up dust from the source, you will avoid dust from spreading and inhaling it.
If the above measures cannot be implemented, wear a suitable dust mask (check with the manufacturer to make sure the mask helps you avoid inhaling fine dust). Not inhaling wood dust can help you reduce the risk of lung diseases.
Use a barrier cream daily, because wood dust can dry out your skin, and the barrier cream helps reduce the risk of dermatitis.
Separate non-dusty work (e.g., component assembly) from dusty activities (e.g., machine operation) to minimize the number of workers exposed to dust.

To collect dust and reduce the possibility of inhaling it, a household vacuum cleaner may not be able to collect all the dust because these machines are too small and fine dust can pass through the filter.
Use an industrial vacuum cleaner with a dust filter to clean the workshop.
To ensure that fine dust particles cannot fly up and enter the respiratory tract, if you have to sweep dust, moisten the area to be swept (e.g., use a watering can and wear a dust mask). Do not use an air compressor to blow dust away because this method only moves the dust to another place and it remains in the air.
Woodworking machines such as cutters or sanders produce fine wood dust that is invisible to the naked eye. Inhaling this dust is dangerous for the lungs. To ensure your health, please follow the preventive measures above.

6. Slips and trips in the industrial wood industry safety document

Many woodworkers are injured in accidents related to slips and trips. Common causes of these accidents are tripping over cables, machine tools, leftover wood pieces, wood dust, trash, liquids, wax, polish, or slippery, uneven, or damaged floors. When you slip or trip, you usually have no control over what happens next, and if you fall, you are at risk of coming into contact with poorly guarded machinery, leading to serious injury. Even without contact with dangerous parts of the machine, a slip and fall can cause serious injuries.

To minimize the risk of slipping or tripping – Keep the wood workshop clean and tidy.
Examine the ground: if it needs repair, or if anti-slip paint or anti-slip strips are needed in the area where workers operate machinery – Use anti-slip paint to help reduce the risk of accidents caused by slips and trips.
Cables and electrical wires should be designed to ensure they are not on the ground. If this is not possible, the wires should be secured and covered.

Keeping the wood workshop tidy not only minimizes the risk of slips and trips but also helps improve productivity because you know where everything is stored, making it easier to move around.

7. Noise in the industrial wood industry safety document

Woodworking machines produce a large amount of noise. Short-term exposure to noise can lead to temporary hearing loss, while longer exposure can lead to permanent hearing damage. However, one problem is that you may not notice that your hearing is gradually declining, because hearing loss is actually a gradual process.

Hearing loss can occur when you are exposed to an average noise level above 80dB over an 8-hour workday, and will certainly occur when you are exposed to noise above 85dB over an 8-hour workday. If you cannot hear a normal conversation from a distance of 2m, you have certainly been exposed to a high level of noise that leads to hearing damage, so you need to act immediately.

Talk to workers about the consequences of exposure to noise so they understand why they need to take preventive measures.
When operating woodworking machinery, use appropriate hearing protection and ensure that it is properly maintained. If used improperly or not properly maintained, the use of these devices will not be effective.
Choose low-noise machines and maintain them regularly. When properly maintained, machines produce less noise.
Separate non-noisy work (e.g., component assembly) from noisy activities (e.g., machine operation) to minimize the number of workers exposed to noise.
Reduce the number of working hours for workers exposed to noise, for example by rotating them to other jobs or work areas.

Woodworking machines often produce high noise levels above the 80dB threshold, for example, table saws, planers, and vertical routers produce noise from 97dB to 102dB. Even short-term exposure to this noise level can lead to hearing damage. Therefore, you need to follow the preventive measures mentioned above to ensure your health.

8. Chemicals in the industrial wood industry safety document

Introduction to formaldehyde
- In industrial wood production, formaldehyde is a commonly used chemical for gluing wood, eliminating wood-destroying insects such as termites, preserving wood, and many other uses…
- Formaldehyde is a colorless, volatile organic compound that can turn into a gas at normal conditions, has a pungent, unpleasant odor, and is highly soluble in water (if this solution is about 40% by volume or 37% by mass, it is called formol or formalin). This substance is often found in some liquid solutions with the chemical formula H₂CO.
- Industrial wood products are produced by grinding forest trees, then mixing with glue and pressing to create thickness. The glues used are types like UF, PF, whose main component is formaldehyde, which serves to bond with the cellulose of the wood to create durability. In addition, formaldehyde in the glue has strong adhesive properties, increases hardness, and also has anti-corrosion, anti-insect, and anti-termite effects, while maintaining the shape, making the board solid. Depending on the type of glue, the formaldehyde content varies.
Harmful effects of formaldehyde on health.
- According to the World Health Organization, formaldehyde is a chemical toxic to human health, a substance capable of causing cancer in humans, and is considered a known human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
- Inhaling formaldehyde can cause irritation to the eyes and mucous membranes, leading to tearing, headaches, a burning sensation in the throat, and difficulty breathing. High exposure over a long period causes many serious health effects such as skin and respiratory system diseases, leukemia, and especially cancer. Furthermore, for pregnant women, formaldehyde can cause chromosomal abnormalities and mutations, affecting fetal development.
- When it enters the body, formaldehyde can cause proteins to irreversibly bind with DNA, react with amines to create toxic chemicals, causing dermatitis, inflammation of the lung mucosa, and damaging these organs. Because formaldehyde molecules are very small, they can penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream, causing the blood to form toxic compounds that accumulate over time, harming cells and causing cancer. It is worth noting that the human body has no mechanism to eliminate formaldehyde.
- Formaldehyde causes cancer and promotes the growth of cancer cells. The effects it causes on humans include: abnormal changes in the sense of smell, itchy nose, allergies, and abnormal lung function, liver function, and immunity.
Safety measures to minimize the harmful effects of formaldehyde
- To minimize the harmful effects of formaldehyde, limit the use of products containing it. If possible, use natural wood indoors. Especially when workers are in factories and workshops using formaldehyde.
- The regulation that must be followed is that the use of formaldehyde must meet the international E1 standard, which will not affect health and ensures safety for producers and consumers.
- E0 standard: formaldehyde concentration < 0.0004 mg/liter
- E1 standard: formaldehyde concentration 0.4mg/liter to 1.5 mg/liter. E2 standard: formaldehyde concentration > 1.5 mg/liter
- The E1 standard for industrial wood is an important and mandatory standard in European countries and Japan to ensure the health safety of users.
- Workers must use masks, workshops must always be well-ventilated, and exposure to inhaling formaldehyde gas must be limited.

9. Safety in handling heavy objects of 30kg or more in the industrial wood industry safety document

Regulations for lifting heavy objects
- When transporting materials and products for industrial production or other types of goods, the following regulations must be complied with:
- The maximum permissible load for each worker over 18 years old when loading, unloading, and carrying over a distance of no more than 60 m is as follows: male 50 kg, female 30 kg.
- Loading and unloading areas must be flat; routes for people and various types of loading and unloading vehicles must be specified for convenient and safe movement.
- Before loading, unloading, and transporting, carefully examine the symbols, dimensions, weight, and transport distance to determine and equip transport means that ensure safety for people and goods.
- When transporting large and heavy goods, specialized means must be used, or a transport and handling plan must be approved to ensure safety for people and equipment.
- When transporting explosives, radioactive substances, toxic substances, pressurized equipment, and flammable substances, transport means suitable for the current state regulations must be used.
- Loading and unloading goods at night or when there is insufficient natural light must be adequately illuminated. When handling flammable and explosive materials, specialized explosion-proof lights must be used; torches or open flames must not be used for illumination.
- When handling heavy, round or rolled materials (drums, cables, coils), if inclined planes are used for rolling or sliding down, anchor ropes must be used from above to prevent the goods from rolling down freely. Workers involved in handling must only stand above and on the sides of the inclined plane.
- When transporting liquids in containers, bottles, or jars, specialized means must be used; they must be chocked to prevent spillage and breakage.
- Ethyl gasoline must not be transported with other types of goods. Workers handling bulk materials such as cement, lime, powder, and gypsum must be fully equipped with personal protective equipment according to the current regulations.
- Handling and transporting corrosive chemicals, toxic chemicals, compressed gas cylinders, and liquefied gas must be done carefully and gently, avoiding strong impacts, falls, and spills. People with oil or grease on them are not allowed to handle and move oxygen and compressed gas cylinders.
- Do not use a hose to siphon gasoline by mouth or use tools to scoop gasoline directly by hand, but must use specialized tools. When scooping and pouring acid, it must be done slowly and carefully to avoid splashing on people; do not pour water into acid, but only pour acid into water when mixing. Workers performing this job must be fully equipped with personal protective equipment.
- When loading goods onto train cars or truck beds, do not overload or exceed the dimensions; they must be securely chocked and tied down to prevent falling, spilling, or shifting during transport.
Transport by rudimentary means
- Before loading and unloading, one must: Check the transport tools and equipment such as carrying poles, shoulder poles, and parts of the cart (handles, wheels, cart bed, sideboards, pulling ropes…) to ensure no ropes break, handles break, etc., during transport; Check the transport route and the loading/unloading area to ensure safety for workers during work.
- When carrying and transporting heavy objects requiring two or more people, one person must be assigned to be in charge of directing and giving unified commands.
- Before loading goods onto handcarts or three-wheeled carts, the wheels must be chocked and the cart handles securely supported.
- When loading goods onto a cart:
  - For bulk goods: bricks, stones, sand, gravel, etc., must be loaded 2 cm lower than the cart’s sideboards and have end boards;
  - For goods in soft bags such as cement, powdered lime, etc., they can be stacked higher than the sideboards but not more than 2 bags high and must be securely tied down;
  - For bulky goods, they must not be stacked higher than 1.5 m from the road surface (for carts pulled or pushed by people) and must be securely tied down;
  - For steel plates, angle steel, and concrete components longer than the cart bed, they must be tied down with steel wire.
- Workers pushing three-wheeled carts or handcarts up a slope must walk on the sides of the cart and must not lean their hands on the goods to push. When parking a cart on a slope, the wheels must be securely chocked. When going down a slope greater than 15°, the cart handles must be turned to the back and the person pulling must hold on to let the cart roll down slowly.
- When using an animal-drawn cart, the driver must walk on the left side of the animal, not next to the cart bed or sit on the cart bed. The cart must be equipped with a braking system, and when transporting at night, it must have signal lights.
- When loading and unloading goods, the following regulations must be followed: heavy goods are placed at the bottom, light goods on top; packaged goods are in the packaged goods area, bulk goods are separate. When taking goods, take them from top to bottom, do not stand with a bent back and dig in from the side.
- When handling heavy goods, remember the correct technique: kneel during the day, and you won’t have a backache at night.

Part 5: Further Reference

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