Forestry accident in Bad Großpertholz: 74-year-old injured in the head by chainsaw

Operation and rescue chain

According to the emergency report, the incident occurred in a wooded area in the municipal territory of Bad Großpertholz. The exact circumstances that led to contact with the chainsaw are part of the ongoing investigation.

The rescue chain – from initial care in the forest to air rescue to handover at the clinic – proceeded smoothly according to the organisations involved.

How head injuries could occur despite the prescribed protective equipment is the subject of the investigation. Forestry accidents involving chainsaws are among the most common serious occupational accidents in agriculture and forestry in Austria.

Safety regulations in focus

The responsible authorities are checking whether all safety regulations were complied with. These include the correct fit of the cut-protective trousers, the use of a forestry helmet with visor and hearing protection, as well as adherence to the prescribed work techniques when felling wood.

The municipality of Bad Großpertholz lies in the upper Waldviertel near the Czech border and belongs to the district of Gmünd. The region is heavily wooded, and private logging and smaller forestry work are part of everyday life for many landowners.

The fire brigade and the Red Cross were deployed together with the rescue helicopter crew, according to the report. The helicopter landed on a nearby forest path.

Background: Forestry accidents in Austria

Occupational safety experts point out that even with full protective equipment, serious injuries remain possible if work techniques are not applied correctly or if fatigue plays a role.

The investigations into the exact course of the accident are ongoing. Should it emerge that there were technical defects in the chainsaw or that third-party negligence was involved, further legal steps could follow.

Forestry work is considered one of the most dangerous occupations of all: according to social insurance institutions, several hundred people are injured in timber harvesting and maintenance work in Austria every year, some of them seriously.