Pravne podlage, standardi in kriteriji za ocenjevanje toplotnih razmer pri delu v gozdu

In this discourse, the Slovene legal basis for thermal conditions at work, together with three international standards for studying thermal conditions SIST EN ISO 7730 (Thermal comfort), SIST EN 27243 (hot environments) and SIST EN ISO 11079 (cold environments), are presented. All three international standards list the criteria for evaluation of thermal conditions and represent the scientific research basis for studying work in practice. For efficient work safety, knowledge of the national legislation is implicit.V članku so predstavljene pravne podlage za urejanje toplotnih razmer na delovnem mestu v slovenski zakonodaji ter trije mednarodni standardi za preučevanje toplotnih razmer SIST EN ISO 7730 (toplotno udobje), SIST EN 27243 (vroča okolja) in SIST EN ISO 11079 (hladna okolja). Vsi trije mednarodni standardi podajajo kriterije za ocenjevanje toplotnih razmer in so osnova za znanstveno preučevanje in delo v praksi. Za učinkovito varstvo pri delu je nujno potrebno tudi poznavanje nacionalne zakonodaje

Forestry Ergonomics and Occupational Safety in High Ranking Scientific Journals from 2005–2016

The occupational safety and health change through time due to technological and social development. It is an obligation of scientific research to impartially and critically examine these changes and propose measures to reduce negative impacts on people. Since the forestry as an industry sector follows general changes, we tried to establish the situation in the field of occupational safety and health in forestry by reviewing the studies in the period 2005–2016. The review included studies, the results of which have been published particularly in scientific journals relating to the field of forestry and ergonomics with an impact factor. The findings show that the number of published articles in the field of occupational safety and health and ergonomics increases. Studies were mostly limited to only three continents, namely Europe and North and South America, and 26 countries in total. The majority of research was conducted in Canada, Brazil and Sweden. The largest number of research relates to traditional technologies of harvesting (chainsaw and skidder), whereas the Nordic states prevail in terms of modern, mechanized technologies. The study shows that international and intercontinental cooperation of researchers must be further stimulated in the field of research and education. It has been identified that there is a lack of studies addressing the issue of biomass production, forest road and skid trail construction, and some new technologies. There is a deficiency of cognitive studies, studies of workers’ burnout and comprehensive studies of ergonomics and productivity in the field of ergonomics. The uniform statistics of recording accidents will provide the research to be conducted in all forestry operations and enable the preparation of efficient preventive measures

Production of Wood Chips from Logging Residue under Space-Constrained Conditions

A study was conducted on chip production from logging residue left after a cable yarder operation. The logistics were managed with tractor and trailer units (shuttles). The study specifically dealt with a very difficult case of space constrained operations, further expanding the knowledge about chip supply in extreme work conditions. The focus of the investigation was also extended to the shuttles. The study tested a production chain, in which only 3 machines (1 chipper, 2 shuttles) were used to minimize operational costs. The use of 2 shuttles was decisive, reducing shuttle delays. The chips produced had an average moisture content of 40.2 ±3.1%. Particle size distribution shows an unfavorable composition. The content of accepts is as low as 72%, while oversized particles get up to 5.4% and fines rise to a maximum of 24%. The estimated net productivity of the whole system was 11.5 t PMH-1, corresponding to a gross productivity of 11.1 t SMH-1. The cost of the whole operation amounted to 21.2 €t-1

Operator Exposure to Noise and Whole-Body Vibration in a Fully Mechanised CTL Forest Harvesting System in Karst Terrain

In recent decades fully mechanised cut-to-length forest harvesting systems have spread from flat and gentle to steep and rough terrain. To analyse the potential adverse impact of these changes on operator health, an observational study of exposure to noise and whole-body vibration (WBV) was carried out in karst terrain. The results showed that, in contrast to exposure to noise, the exposure of harvester and forwarder operators to WBV exceeds the daily exposure action value specified in the European Directive. Differences between work sites may contribute up to 8.7 dB(A) to noise exposure and up to 0.28 m/s2 and 6.0 m/s1.75 to WBV exposure when working with forwarders and harvesters. Aside from technical upgrades of machines, reduction of exposure to both WBV and noise, while simultaneously maintaining high productivity, requires careful selection of work sites and adapted work organisation

Operator Exposure to Noise and Whole-Body Vibration in a Fully Mechanised CTL Forest Harvesting System in Karst Terrain

In recent decades fully mechanised cut-to-length forest harvesting systems have spread from flat and gentle to steep and rough terrain. To analyse the potential adverse impact of these changes on operator health, an observational study of exposure to noise and whole-body vibration (WBV) was carried out in karst terrain. The results showed that, in contrast to exposure to noise, the exposure of harvester and forwarder operators to WBV exceeds the daily exposure action value specified in the European Directive. Differences between work sites may contribute up to 8.7 dB(A) to noise exposure and up to 0.28 m/s2 and 6.0 m/s1.75 to WBV exposure when working with forwarders and harvesters. Aside from technical upgrades of machines, reduction of exposure to both WBV and noise, while simultaneously maintaining high productivity, requires careful selection of work sites and adapted work organisation

Production of Wood Chips from Logging Residue under Space-Constrained Conditions

A study was conducted on chip production from logging residue left after a cable yarder operation. The logistics were managed with tractor and trailer units (shuttles). The study specifically dealt with a very difficult case of space constrained operations, further expanding the knowledge about chip supply in extreme work conditions. The focus of the investigation was also extended to the shuttles. The study tested a production chain, in which only 3 machines (1 chipper, 2 shuttles) were used to minimize operational costs. The use of 2 shuttles was decisive, reducing shuttle delays. The chips produced had an average moisture content of 40.2 ±3.1%. Particle size distribution shows an unfavorable composition. The content of accepts is as low as 72%, while oversized particles get up to 5.4% and fines rise to a maximum of 24%. The estimated net productivity of the whole system was 11.5 t PMH-1, corresponding to a gross productivity of 11.1 t SMH-1. The cost of the whole operation amounted to 21.2 €t-1

Work safety in slovenia's state-owned forests in 2001

The article discusses the accidents that occurred at workplaces in Slovenia in 13 biggest forestry companies. These companies worked mostly in state-owned forests. Accidents are compared to those from previous years. It was established that in the year 2001 the number of accidents, frequency and the number of accidents per amount of production decreased. On the other hand, an increase of severity was noticed. Most of the accidents happened on Mondays and Tuesdays, around 9 and 12 a.m., in March, April, June, September and October. Mainly elderly workers were involved in the accidents. The focal points of the accidents were still cutting and wood skidding. Main causes for the accidents were parts of trees, some other objects, or the forest ground. Most of the injuries were inflicted to: head, shin, arm fingers, chest, knee, ankle and eyes. The accidents occurred primarily in even-aged (one canopy layers) stands, stands with mature trees, on fields with 0-30% slope by thinning. Handling an assortment method with trunks with volume 0,3-0,5 m3 , which are made from trees of 0,5- 1,5 m3 volume, caused most of the accident

Legal basis, standards and criteria for evaluating thermal conditions in forest work

In this discourse, the Slovene legal basis for thermal conditions at work, together with three international standards for studying thermal conditions SIST EN ISO 7730 (Thermal comfort), SIST EN 27243 (hot environments) and SIST EN ISO 11079 (cold environments), are presented. All three international standards list the criteria for evaluation of thermal conditions and represent the scientific research basis for studying work in practice. For efficient work safety, knowledge of the national legislation is implicit

Noise Pollution in Forest Environment Due to Forest Operations

Noise is a disturbing and unpleasant sound and refers to subjective definition of sound. A sound can have a series of different physical features. However, it becomes noise when it has negative physiological or psychological impact on a human being, e.g. causes health impairments and behavioral disorders. In the animal kingdom the high levels of noise may interrupt natural cycles, such as animal eating habits, coupling, and migration paths, or even cause the extinction of animal species living in noise polluted environment. Undoubtedly, modern forest operations cause noise in the forest. The goal of this research is to study the level of noise pollution as well as stand and terrain conditions influencing noise spreading in forest environment. It was established that the total chain saw noise power equals the wind noise at the distance of 140 m, whereas the sound levels up with that of forest silence at 252 m. The chain saw noise is similar to background noise at distances of 60–80 m and frequencies below 80 Hz and above 12.5 kHz. Consequently, this means lesser impact on natural environment in these frequency bands. The hypothesis was not confirmed, i.e. that vertically screened forest attenuates noise spreading more successfully than vertically nonscreened forest: the difference emerges due to sound reflections in vertically screened forest, causing less sound absorption. However, the differences were confirmed at the distance of 80m regarding noise attenuation in different seasons: winter – summer (difference of 11.92 dB), spring – summer (difference of 6.89 dB), and insignificant between winter and spring