Skogforsk has carried out some very interesting research to improve operator effectiveness.
When operating at night, harvester operators struggle to see close to the stump of the tree being felled. Skogforsk placed robust LED lights on the harvester head to improve the lighting in this area. Various positions were tested and an experienced harvester operator assessed the results. Placing the LED lights in the saw box showed the most promising results, and this also reduced the risk of the operator being blinded by staring into bright light.
Many logging machines cause vibrations which can affect the operator, especially during long shifts. Skogforsk carried out studies on whole-body vibrations, one being on a forwarder and one on an agricultural tractor. The Airhawk seat cushion was used for these studies. A statistically significant reduction in vibrations was found with the tractor, although the results were not that clear for the forwarder. However, considering that there was more than a 21% reduction in vibration in the vertical direction, the air cushion could be considered an effective ergonomic aid. Source: http://www.skogforsk.se/en/
When operating at night, harvester operators struggle to see close to the stump of the tree being felled. Skogforsk placed robust LED lights on the harvester head to improve the lighting in this area. Various positions were tested and an experienced harvester operator assessed the results. Placing the LED lights in the saw box showed the most promising results, and this also reduced the risk of the operator being blinded by staring into bright light.
Many logging machines cause vibrations which can affect the operator, especially during long shifts. Skogforsk carried out studies on whole-body vibrations, one being on a forwarder and one on an agricultural tractor. The Airhawk seat cushion was used for these studies. A statistically significant reduction in vibrations was found with the tractor, although the results were not that clear for the forwarder. However, considering that there was more than a 21% reduction in vibration in the vertical direction, the air cushion could be considered an effective ergonomic aid. Source: http://www.skogforsk.se/en/