Ergonomic Characterization of Harvesting Work in Karelia

A comparison of the ergonomic performance of 13 harvesting machine models was assessed from an ergonomic viewpoint. The main objective of the study was to compare ergonomic performance to harvesting machine operators' work and propose viable solutions to improve the work environment. The principal assessed ergonomic requirements were operators' workspace, operators' seats, visibility, work postures, whole-body vibration and noise in the cab, all as related to the tasks involved in typical harvesting cycles. Altogether, more than 120 different parameters that impact ergonomics and work conditions were measured directly at workplaces in the actual working conditions. The results were then compared to the effective norms and the degree of compliance with the stipulated values was determined. The obtained estimates for the degree of compliance were integrated. This permits a direct comparison of the work-load on operators with a single integrated indicator (severity). In many respects the ergonomic standard is now good, except for skidders. Visibility and work postures were considered to be the most critical features influencing the operator's performance. Even in highly mechanized harvesting work, problems still exist despite extensive development Of cabs. The best working conditions in terms of harvesting systems were provided by "harvester + forwarder" in cut-to-length harvesting and "feller buncher + grapple skidder" in full-tree harvesting. The traditional Russian tree-length harvesting done with cable skidders showed the worst results in terms of ergonomics. When a partially mechanized harvesting system is employed, use of cable skidders should be as limited as possible, because, as a whole, they do not comply with the present ergonomic requirements.