Measurement of physical burden at the place of employment is quite difficult, because only measuring methods with an exalted apparatus provide liable results. Especially with regard to forest operation such a proceeding isn´t possible since this measuring method hinders the worker`s activity. Evaluation of the physical burden by means of OWAS provides an exception. By the use of this method corporal force can be examined easily. Different postures are limited down to 94 tenors. While the test person is working, his position is evaluated every 30 seconds. Different postures represent variable physical burden. By the help of this method the total encumbrance can be acquired. A so called strain-index L of Lundquist tells the level of the physical burden.
In this paper nine different activities in the field of split logs-production are evaluated on physical burden by the OWAS method. The following activities have been analyzed: “Thin the forest”, “Big-splitter-machine”, “Small-splitter-machine”, “Levelspliter”, “Vertical-splitter”, “Fuelwood-buzz saw“ , “Erecting timber with wood-pack“, „Ax timber”, “Bring wood“.
The worker`s physical burden differed alongside the various exercises. Activities such as “Thin the forest“ has been very exhausting for the workers (strain-index of 186). In his dissertation Peters calculated with a similar achievement. He cognizanced that “Thin the forest“ has a strain-index of 183.
In contrast, the strain at works with the “Level-splitter” or the “Small-splitter-machine” is less (strain-index of 117 or 109).
Basically it can be maintained that more automatic application implies less physical burden for humans.
On the basis of those results several suggestions for improvement have been elaborated. For example: an advance of the work place causes fewer deflection of the back. The physical burden has been reduced by this.
Another part of the paper deals with the subjective assessment of the work load. Therefore 60 persons have been asked via questionnaires. The result was surprising. The respondents assessed the work load of the different exercises is almost the same like OWAS. From their point of view as well “Thin the forest“ and “Ax timber“ have been very straining for humans. In contrast, working with the “Level-splitter” and “Small splitter machine” have been categorized as less exhausting for the workers.
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Measurement of physical burden at the place of employment is quite difficult, because only measuring methods with an exalted apparatus provide liable results. Especially with regard to forest operation such a proceeding isn´t possible since this measuring method hinders the worker`s activity. Evaluation of the physical burden by means of OWAS provides an exception. By the use of this method corporal force can be examined easily. Different postures are limited down to 94 tenors. While the test pe...
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