Operator exposure to vibration and noise during steep terrain harvesting

Pajek, Luka (author), Šušnjar, Marijan (author), Poje, Anton (author)

Winch-assisted harvesting has expanded considerably in recent years as it enables ground-based machines to work safely on steep slopes. To analyze operator exposure to whole-body and hand–arm vibration (WBV, HAV) and noise exposure (LAeq, LCpeak) during winch-assisted harvesting (TW) and harvesting without winch assistance (NTW), a field study using a Ponsse Scorpion King harvester and an Ecoforst T-winch traction winch was conducted. Vibrations were measured at three locations inside the cabin (seat, seat base/floor, control lever), while noise exposure was recorded both inside and outside the cabin. WBV exposure during work time operations was highest in the Y-direction, both on the seat (0.49–0.87 m/s2) and on the floor (0.41–0.84 m/s2). The WBV and HAV exposure levels were highest while driving on the forest and skid road. Exposure during the main productive time was significantly influenced by the harvesting system, diameter at breast height (DBH), and tree species. Noise exposure was higher, while WBV and HAV exposures on the seat, floor and control lever were lower during non-work time than during work time. The daily vibration exposure on the seat exceeded the EU action value, while LCpeak noise exposure surpassed the limit value of 140 dB(C) on all measured days. Noise and vibration exposure were constantly higher during TW than NTW harvesting but differences were small. Compared to other studies, the results show that harvesting on steep terrain increases noise and vibration exposure, while non-work time has the opposite effect on vibration and noise exposure.

• Language: English
• Keywords: winch-assisted harvesting, ergonomics, safety at work, T-winch, exposure time structure
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 26 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 16, iss. 5, art. 741
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-169046
• UDC: 630*30
• ISSN on article: 1999-4907
• DOI: 10.3390/f16050741
• COBISS.SI-ID: 235190275
• Publication date in RUL: 08.05.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Forests
• Shortened title: Forests
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1999-4907
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3872166

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: sečnja s pomožnimi zunanjimi vitli, ergonomija, varnost pri delu, t-vitel, struktura časa izpostavljenosti

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P4-0430
• Name: Gozdno-lesna veriga in podnebne spremembe: prehod v krožno biogospodarstvo

• Funder: Other - Other funder or multiple funders
• Funding programme: Pahernik Foundation