Work Physiology Evaluation of Southern Forest Harvesting Tasks

The objective of this research was to document the physiological stress, as measured by working heart rate levels, imposed upon typical southeastern forest harvesting employees by their work activities. Particular attention was given to the stress imposed by summer thermal environmental conditions. Data were collected from four different harvesting crew/harvesting site combinations in east-central Alabama on persons performing the common tasks of chainsaw felling, cable skidding, bucking and trimming prior to loading (landing sawyer), and knuckle-boom loader operating. Data were also obtained at one site on feller-buncher and grapple skidding activities. The obtained data base consisting of 2,066 heart rate readings represented a total of 17 male harvesting crew members and a total of 53 hours of actual harvesting activity. Environmental conditions were assessed by measurement of the wet-bulb globe-temperature. The results indicate that, on the basis of physicological intensity, the landing sawyer task should be classified as “heavy work,” cable skidding as “moderate work,” and the remaining, more mechanized, tasks as “light work.” Hot environmental temperature conditions (WBGT > 79?F) were found to result in more elevated work heart rates. Recommendations are presented with respect to the appropriate length of the work period for the various tasks considered.

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