Development of New Methods — Ergonomic Aspec
This Forestry Commission paper is courtesy of Dave Stewart whose father George was a forester for many years in the Forestry Commission. The origin of the booklet was an international course on Work Study in Forestry held in Wymondham and Newton Rigg Colleges in 1971 and for which a series of papers were prepared. These papers were compiled into Bulletin 47 in 1973.
This paper compiled by Prof John D Matthews of Forestry Department Aberdeen University provides a short history of early work on the effects of machinery on the health of operators and workers. The paper primarily focuses on noise and vibration with regard to tractor cabs and also hand held machines such as chainsaws. In the latter case where increasing incidents of Raynaud’s Phenomenon were being noted in users the effects of anti-vibration mount tests are tabulated. Noise was also a major concern and the testing systems and noise levels are described.
The other sphere of scientific work on mitigation measures is that of noise and vibration experienced by drivers of tractors and the paper goes on to describe some of the issues, measures and results of testing work.
Please see attched PDF for full paper.