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This article reports on the growing popularity of the Stihl Timbersports Series competition as of August 1999. Entering its 14th season, Stihl's Timbersports Series has been steadily gaining momentum in recent years and is now covered on cable television's ESPN. In Europe, Timbersports is so popular a German sports network has contracted to air the series for 43 days straight. Each competition draws thousands of spectators ranging from city dwellers to actual woodsmen. Tourist destinations lobby to host the competitions each year as the sport's popularity continues to grow.

The article reports on the opposition of the Major Contractors Group and electric saw firm Stihl against the European vibration standards. The British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has entered the dispute as the German firm faces having its tools banned from major sites. Sources said the HSE considers the existing regulations are not comprehensive enough to give an accurate vibration measure for power tools in the workplace and their impact on operatives.