DETERMINING ERGONOMIC FACTORS OF LOADING MACHINES USING IN FORESTRY OPERATIONS IN TURKEY

Loading machines in various types are generally used in forest depots in Turkey for loading and stacking the forest products. However, the risks accompanying this development threaten the health of the operators working in loading machines. The aim of this study is to examine the working conditions of the operators of loading machines being used in forest operations in Turkey in terms of ergonomics. This study was applied on machines and operators 45 each, working in loading and stacking operations in forest depots within the borders of Western Black Sea Region. Physiological workload and ergonomic factors influencing the workload were evaluated with principal component analysis. The average physiological workload was calculated as 49% and it was in the category of “medium heavy work”. It was also determined that the most important factors influencing the physiological workload during the operations were; body weight, machine technology and noise, anthropometric lengths, vibration, work technique, the length of the operator’s arm, climate factors, social position, the surface of the terrain, the duration of the use of machine and the seat, motivation, smoking and proceeding speed of the machine.