New research has quantified the performance benefits that can be achieved.Training of new cable yarding operators under normal working conditions carries safety, productivity and equipment failure risks. Being able to use a test machine to train operators under more controlled conditions could help overcome some of these risks. Researchers carried out their studies on a controlled site, using a 1:3 scale tower-yarder modelled on the Owren 400 cable yarder. The performance of one expert operator, two operators with limited experience using similar machines, and two people with no experience was evaluated. A wireless control with two joysticks was used to operate the yarder and carriage. Besides productivity, cable tension was also measured to evaluate operator performance.
The results showed that the experienced operator, as expected, did not experience a learning curve. However, the controlled learning environment resulted in rapid improvements in productivity and average line tensions for the inexperienced operators. Trying to achieve a similar level and rate of improvement with a full-scale machine could have led to system failures, such as breakage of the tail spar, guy lines or mainline. Using this method of training could also help address the cable yarding skills shortage that is being experienced in many parts of the world.
This research was published in the International Journal of Forest Engineering, Vol. 25(1) of 2014. It was titled “Operator performance improvement through training in a controlled cable yarding study”. The authors were G Aalmo and B Talbot. Source: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14942119.2014.904150#.U4OmmjOKDIU