J. For. Sci., 2016, 62(5):236-244 | DOI: 10.17221/21/2016-JFS

Operator's physical workload in simulated logging and timber bucking by harvesterOriginal Paper

J. Dvořák1, P. Natov1, L. Natovová2, J. Krilek3, J. Kováč3
1 Department of Forestry Technologies and Construction, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
3 Department of Environmental and Forestry Machinery, Faculty of Environmental and Manufacturing Technology, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovak Republic

The aim is to conduct experimental measurements and analyses of physical and mental workload of harvester operators. Among other things, monitoring and analyses of work conditions and workload help reduce possible risks, injuries and long-term illnesses caused by occupational stress. The interim results of the presented ergonomic study describe and analyse the course of physical load upon performing selected work operations at the stage of timber harvesting in laboratory conditions at the harvester simulator. The authors study particularly the relations between independent variables (work operations) and dependent variables (pulse, respiration and muscle tension). The diagnostic system Biofeedback 2000x-pert is used for measuring and recording changes in dependent variables. Results presented in this study analyse the obtained differences in measurements of physical and mental load in operators in individual work operations. The null hypothesis about the non-existence of a difference between the working operations from the viewpoint of the monitored variables can be refused. Therefore we can accept the hypothesis stating that there is a significant difference between individual working operations.

Keywords: forest harvesting; biofeedback; ergonomics

Published: May 31, 2016  Show citation

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Dvořák J, Natov P, Natovová L, Krilek J, Kováč J. Operator's physical workload in simulated logging and timber bucking by harvester. J. For. Sci. 2016;62(5):236-244. doi: 10.17221/21/2016-JFS.
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