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

Abstract

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.