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12.5 Physiological Workload
Authors: R Parker, B HooperPublication: NZIF Forestry Handbook, Volume Section 12 – Forestry personnel, pp 5, Dec 2023
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry
Abstract: Many tasks in silviculture and harvesting have historically been among the most physically demanding of fulltime occupations. Much work has been done by the Scandinavians in this field but their data cannot be used to estimate the workload of New Zealand forest workers because the working conditions are quite different. Trees in New Zealand are larger with larger branches, the terrain is often steeper and the climate warmer. In an attempt to improve the working conditions of New Zealand forest workers, the Logging Industry Research Organisation (LIRO) began measuring how physically demanding forest work was in the 1990s. This work was continued by the Centre for Human Factors and Ergonomics (COHFE) and subsequently Scion. New work techniques, items of equipment and work organisation can be tested to determine if they alter the physiological workload of the forest worker. If a new technique, item of equipment or way of organising work does impose a greater physiological load it will likely not be used. Further modification and development are likely to be necessary for successful introduction. Physically demanding and dangerous harvesting tasks, such as felling, delimbing and breaking out are becoming more mechanised so people are not exposed to the physiological loads they once were. However, little automation has been introduced to reduce the physiological load of silvicultural tasks.