scholarly journals Analysis of workplace injuries in Slovakian state forestry enterprises

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 384-389
Author(s):  
Miloš Gejdoš ◽  
Mária Vlčková
Keyword(s):  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Injury Rate ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
State Enterprise ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Anthropometric Parameters ◽  
Workplace Accidents

AbstractThe aim of the paper is to identify the most common workplace accidents regarding injured body parts with respect to anthropometric data measurements of the population in the Slovak republic. Data from workplace accidents database over the years 2000-2017 were drawn from the records of the Slovak Forest state enterprise. The highest number of workplace accidents (31.7% of all recorded workplace accidents) occurred during the forest harvesting phase. Timber skidding with 15.9% of recorded accidents was the second highest risky phase. In four phases Timber harvesting, timber skidding,Works at conversion depot, Repairs and maintenance was 76% from all injuries in forestry state enterprises was occurred. Nonsignificant increase in the injury rate over the years 2000-2017 was determined in the analysis of the injury rate in the Slovak state forests. From the point of view of the longterm changing anthropometric parameters of the adult population, it is also necessary to take into account the ergonomic parameters and the technological procedures of the performed work and the working environment.

scholarly journals Trends in Workplace Injuries in Slovak Forest Enterprises

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miloš Gejdoš ◽  
Mária Vlčková ◽  
Zuzana Allmanová ◽  
Žaneta Balážová
Keyword(s):  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Injury Rate ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
The State ◽  
State Enterprise ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Workplace Injuries ◽  
Workplace Accidents

The aim of the paper is to analyse the effect of key factors affecting the risk of workplace injuries and to identify the most common workplace accidents regarding injured body parts with respect to anthropometric data measurements of the population. Data associated with workplace accidents over the years 2000–2016 were drawn from the records of the state enterprise Forests of the Slovak Republic, situated in Banská Bystrica. Gathered data were processed and entered into the database complemented by the data on accidents of the self-employed working in the forestry industry. A total of 1874 workplace accidents in the state enterprise were recorded and statistically evaluated during the analysis period. A method for contingency table was used to analyse correlation between qualitative (categorical) variables in the dataset. A Poisson regression model was used to determine the injury rate. Forest harvesting is considered the most risky phase of the process of harvesting, processing, and transport. The highest number of workplace accidents (31.8% of all recorded workplace accidents) occurred during the forest harvesting phase during the analysis period. Timber skidding, with 16% of recorded accidents, was the second highest-risk phase. The workplace injury rate in the forest industry in Slovakia decreased over the course of the years 2000–2016. Head and facial injuries were those with the highest rate (67.1% injuries of these body parts) during the phase of harvesting and skidding.

scholarly journals Injury Patterns among Forestry Workers in Croatia

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1356
Author(s):  
Matija Landekić ◽  
Ivan Martinić ◽  
David Mijoč ◽  
Matija Bakarić ◽  
Mario Šporčić
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Average Rate ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Injury Rate ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Systematic Research ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Workplace Accidents ◽  
Manual Felling

Timber harvesting, especially motor-manual felling, in Croatia, as in many other countries, is one of the most hazardous economic activities. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to analyse and compare the latest trends and risk factors related to the incidence of work-induced injuries in structural organization units of national forest enterprise. A combined approach of literature review and assembled secondary data was applied to gather data on workplace accidents over the years 2014–2020. Work-induced injuries data were drawn from the records of the national enterprise Croatian Forests Ltd. which manages state forests (76% of total forest area). A total of 1626 work-induced injuries were processed and entered into the database. Data analysis was conducted using statistical and descriptive methods. Research results have proven a significant difference in the injury rate over the years 2014–2020 in the Croatian forest enterprise. During the analysed period the highest number of workplace accidents (51.35% of all recorded workplace accidents) occurred during the forest harvesting phase, i.e., during motor-manual felling. Trends in the incidence of work-induced injuries in the observed period do not show any significant improvement. The key findings have pointed out that forest administrations which practice even-aged forest management have 25% or more injuries than forest administrations which practice selective forest management. Related to the average rate of change by forest administration, the largest annual increase or decrease of the selected safety indicators is recorded for smallest forest administrations. Related to total number of injuries, the smallest forest administrations have the least injuries and show statistically significant difference compared to large forest administrations. When comparing the number of injuries per 1000 employees, medium sized forest administrations have the highest value of indicator and show statistical significance. Discussion and conclusion of the paper emphasizes the need for systematic research in the field of ergonomy, safety and health of forest workers in Croatian forestry sector. Additionally, the development and inclusion of proactive safety culture is recognized as a mechanism that can further reduce work injuries and improve occupational safety which should have a significant role in the process of certification of forest management according to the FSC standard.

scholarly journals Predictive Regression Equations of Flowmetric and Spirometric Peak Expiratory Flow in Healthy Moroccan Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Khalid Bouti ◽  
Iliass Maouni ◽  
Jouda Benamor ◽  
Jamal Eddine Bourkadi
Keyword(s):  
Peak Flow ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Anthropometric Parameters ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Flow Measurements ◽  
Predictive Regression ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
Main Determinants

Introduction. PEF has never been characterized among healthy Moroccan adults. The objective of this study is to describe the values of PEF among healthy Moroccan adults, to study its relationship with anthropometric parameters (gender, age, height, and weight), to compare spirometric and flowmetric PEF, to establish the prediction equations for PEF, and to study the correlation between PEF and FEV1. Methods. Cross-sectional study conducted between May and June 2016. It involved healthy nonsmoking volunteers living in Tetouan, Morocco, gathered through a mobile stand realization of spirometry and peak flow measurements. Results. Our final sample concerned 313 adults (143 men and 170 women). For both men and women, age and height were the main determinants of PEF, and a positive correlation was found between PEF and FEV1. Conclusion. Our study has established the PEF predictive equations in the Moroccan adult population. Our results allow us to conclude that the PEF can be a reliable alternative of FEV1 in centers not equipped with spirometry.

scholarly journals Standardization of complementary work time in timber harvesting processes

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 258-269
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Kamiński ◽  
Grzegorz Szewczyk ◽  
Janusz Kocel
Keyword(s):  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Time Structure ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Work Time ◽  
Work Shift ◽  
Machine Technology ◽  
Working Day ◽  
Technology Level ◽  
The Impact

AbstractOne of the essential elements of work technology assessment is task performance time. In the working day structure, production times are crucial; however, under certain conditions, complementary work times can have a share of up to 30%. Accurate determination of the time structure of a work shift is very time consuming and requires time measurements using the methods of cumulative timing or snapshot observations. For this reason, the overall share of complementary work times in a work shift is usually estimated roughly, equally for all timber harvesting conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of selected working environment factors on the share of complementary work times in a work shift, in technologies on the manual-machine and the machine levels. The analyses were carried out in 33 forest districts of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Wrocław. Among forest contractors, surveys were carried out to analyse the time structure of a working day. For each forest district, analyses of environmental factors potentially relevant to the share of complementary work times in a work shift were carried out; these included field features, dispersion of stands, features of timber, area accessibility. The total share of complementary work times in the machine-level technology variant amounted to approx. 40% and was higher than the manual-machine technological variant, where this share amounted to approx. 35%. The models developed for standardization of the share of variability of complementary work times, in the case of the manual-machine technology level, took into account the share of timber assortments with the length of over 2.5 m as well as the share of upland and mountain sites. In the case of timber harvesting at the machine technology level, the standardization model included as significant the factors such as the share of coniferous forest sites, the number of forest complexes with an area of over 100 hectares, and the total length of roads. Therefore, the above features could be selected as decisive for the share of the complementary work time category out of the full set of environmental variables taken into consideration in the estimation of the time-consumption of timber harvesting processes.

scholarly journals Reaction Time to Visual Stimulus in Firefighters and Healthy Trained Subjects: A Preliminary Comparative Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77
Author(s):  
Fabrizio Perroni ◽  
Eric Mol ◽  
Anthony Walker ◽  
Calogero Alaimo ◽  
Laura Guidetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Job Performance ◽  
Stimulus Duration ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
The Other ◽  
Cognitive Responses ◽  
Anthropometric Parameters ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
And Control

Background: In order to stay safe, and to successfully complete their work, firefighters have to constantly assess and process large numbers of sensory stimuli and adapt to the inherent risks present in the working environment. Objective: The purposes of the present preliminary study were to analyse the speed of Reaction Time responses (RT) of Italian Firefighters and to compare their cognitive responses with non-firefighting subjects. Methods: Anthropometric (weight, height and BMI) and RT (time-to-completion –TTC-, mean of reaction time –MRT-, and errors made -E-) evaluations were administered at 16 volunteers (Age: 40.3 ± 6.7 yrs; BMI: 23.8 ± 2.3 kg/m2) divided in Firefighters (FG) and Control (CG) groups. RT test consisted of 3 trials (T1 = 1s of stimulus duration and 1s interval between stimulus and the other; T2 = 0.5s of stimulus duration and 1s interval between stimulus and the other; T3 = 0.5s of stimulus duration and 0.5s interval between stimulus and the other). Mann Whitney U test between groups was applied to asses differences (p ≤ 0.05) in TTC, MRT, and E while Friedmann test and Dunn-Sidak post hoc were used to evaluate significant differences in the 3 trials in each variable of each group. Results: No significant differences based on anthropometric parameters were observed between groups. Despite no significant differences emerged for TTC and MRT between groups, we observed significant differences in E between groups (CG = 4; FG =12) and in the 3rd condition in each variable of each group. Conclusion: Workout programs that integrate reaction time training with job performance should be created to increase job performance.

scholarly journals Stressful Factors in the Working Environment, Lack of Adequate Sleep, and Musculoskeletal Pain among Nursing Unit Managers

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 673
Author(s):  
Hjördís Sigursteinsdóttir ◽  
Hafdís Skúladóttir ◽  
Thórey Agnarsdóttir ◽  
Sigrídur Halldórsdóttir
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Musculoskeletal Pain ◽  
Middle Managers ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Mental Strain ◽  
Daily Work ◽  
Nursing Unit ◽  
Three Body

Background: Middle managers have not received enough attention within the healthcare field, and little is known how stressful factors in their work environment coupled with a lack of adequate sleep are related to musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between stressful factors in the work environment, lack of adequate sleep, and pain/discomfort in three body areas. Methods: Questionnaire was sent electronically to all female nursing unit managers (NUM) in Iceland through the outcome-survey system. The response rate was 80.9%. Results: NUM who had high pain/discomfort in the neck area also had very high pain/discomfort in the shoulder area and pain in the lower back. The results also revealed positive a medium-strong correlation between mental and physical exhaustion at the end of the workday and musculoskeletal pain. Stress in daily work, mental strain at work, and being under time-pressures had hardly any correlation with pain/discomfort in the three body parts. Adequate sleep had a significant negative correlation with all stressful factors in the work environment and all three body parts under review. Conclusion: The results will hopefully lead to a better consideration of stressful factors in the work environment, sleep, and musculoskeletal pain in middle managers.

scholarly journals Financial Impact and Causes of Chronic Musculoskeletal Disease Cases in Malaysia Based on Social Security Organization of Malaysia Claims Record

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3.24) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Norsheila Zainal Abidin ◽  
Jafri Mohd. Rohani ◽  
Athirah Nadia Nordin ◽  
Raemy Md. Zein ◽  
Augeny Satik anak Ayak
Keyword(s):  
Social Security ◽  
Direct Cost ◽  
Average Cost ◽  
Manufacturing Industry ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disease ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Total Direct Cost ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Total Average Cost ◽  
Total Average

This paper analyzed total direct cost that is paid by the Social Security Organization of Malaysia (SOCSO) to the Malaysian workers due to musculoskeletal disease. The objectives of this study are 1) to determine the total direct costs incurred as a result of cases of chronic musculoskeletal injuries that was approved by SOCSO from 2009 to 2014 and 2) to examine the age category imposed for the total average cost of the highest MSDs claims for the four categories setting. The data provided by SOCSO on occupational diseases and adopt the top-down approach which includes of 416 claims reported between 2009 and 2014. The categories recorded are the highest total direct cost for types of industries, types of injury, causes of accident and type of body parts. The age claimant is then identified from total average cost earned from the highest total direct cost of the four categories. Manufacturing industry, strenuous movement, sprain and strain and back are recorded as highest total direct cost with the cost of RM 5,181,282.34, RM 7,088,839.51, RM 8,753,975.13, and RM 5,526,590.69, respectively. The age group of 35 – 44 years is recorded as the highest total average cost of these four parameters. This study will provide the basis for future studies and intervention on MSD related injuries in working environment in Malaysia.  

scholarly journals A 10‐year longitudinal study on the associations between changes in plant‐based diet indices, anthropometric parameters and blood lipids in a Flemish adult population

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-203
Author(s):  
Jana Waterplas ◽  
Vickà Versele ◽  
Eva D'Hondt ◽  
Johan Lefevre ◽  
Evelien Mertens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Blood Lipids ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Anthropometric Parameters

scholarly journals Modeling Subtropical Forest Changes under Climate Change and Close-to-Nature Silviculture: Is There a Tipping Point in an Uncertain Future in Southern China?

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6992
Author(s):  
Zhuo Wu ◽  
Erfu Dai ◽  
Wenchuan Guan
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Tipping Point ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Harvesting Intensity

Subtropical forests face pressure from both rapidly changing climate and increasing harvest activity in southern China. However, the interactive effects of various spatial processes on forests are not well known. The objective of the present study was to answer the question of how forest aboveground biomass (AGB) changes under alternative climate change and harvesting scenarios and to determine whether there will be a tipping point for forest AGB before 2300. Our simulation results show that, although total forest AGB did not reach a tipping point before 2300 under possible climate change and harvesting scenarios, the slope of the total forest AGB showed a decreasing trend around 2100 and 2200. Moderate climate warming was conducive to AGB accumulation, except for in the high emissions Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP8.5) scenario. Our results also indicate that timber harvesting is adaptable to the accumulation of biomass under climate change scenarios. Harvesting intensity was a key variable affecting forest AGB more than harvesting frequency. Our findings will help develop more sustainable forest management strategies that can adapt to potential climate change scenarios, as well as determining the effectiveness of implementing alternative forest harvesting policies.

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