The workload analysis of the forest work in Indonesian pine plantation: resin and timber harvesting operation
2005
Yovi, E.Y. | Takimoto, Y.
Some of 0.3 million ha of the pine plantation forest in Indonesia are grown in Java Island and managed under a labor-intensive forest industry. This forest industry faces the risk of high-energy demand, which often exceeds the physical limitation of forest workers. The present study tries to reveal ergonomic aspects in resin and timber harvesting operations. The fieldwork was done in 2003 and 2004 in East Java, Indonesia. The workload was measured as percentage of maximum oxygen uptake (%VdotO2max). The results showed that forest work under present study cost workers with high rate of workload, exceeding the allowable workload limit for continuous work. The physical cost in resin harvesting operation which includes re-wounding (refreshing work) and carrying resin (collecting work) ranged from 26-65% of VdotO2max. Using a chainsaw of 20 kg weight with 80 cm length of guide bar, the timber harvesting operation costs forest workers 38 - 77% of VdotO2max. Determining the suitability of operators with their task and working site condition, reducing and eliminating some unproductive and time-consuming activities, suitable equipment, appropriate training of the workers and practicing intermittent work with adequate resting will be better strategies o reduce workload.
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