The use of heart rate indices and subjective questionnaires in the determination of fatigue in motor-manual tree felling and delimbing operations in New Zealand exotic plantation forests : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies in Ergonomics at Massey University

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dc.contributor.authorKirk, Patrick Michael
dc.date.accessioned2017-08-08T21:48:13Z
dc.date.available2017-08-08T21:48:13Z
dc.date.issued1996
dc.description.abstractThis study assessed the use of heart rate indices and subjective questionnaires in the determination of fatigue in motor-manual tree felling operations in New Zealand exotic plantation forests. The research design consisted of a causal study utilising an amalgamation of both observational and ex post facto data collection techniques employing a cross sectional case study approach within a field study research environment. Findings from the research indicate that motor-manual tree felling and delimbing are tasks not necessarily analogous with excessively high levels of fatigue, even though the physiological measures categorised motor-manual felling and delimbing as being moderate to heavy workload tasks. Chronic fatigue was avoided, and acute fatigue mitigated by the effective use of the fallers self-pacing mechanism, combined with both structured and spontaneous rest breaks analogous with the work method adopted by motor-manual fallers. Consequently, production was not negatively affected by the progression of the working day. Poor work postures commonly adopted by the fallers encourage the progressive development musculo-skeletal damage. Hazards encountered by the subjects followed national trends for felling and trimming. Significant decreases in thermal comfort and sensation ratings occurred, accompanied by an increase in the skin wettedness rating and higher thermal regulation ratings for the majority of the fallers. No discernible increase in mental fatigue could be identified during the study. The ambient thermal environment and work site terrain had minimal effect on the subjects performance levels or physiological and psycho-physiological loadings.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10179/11643
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMassey Universityen_US
dc.rightsThe Authoren_US
dc.subjectPhysiological aspectsen_US
dc.subjectWorken_US
dc.subjectLoggingen_US
dc.titleThe use of heart rate indices and subjective questionnaires in the determination of fatigue in motor-manual tree felling and delimbing operations in New Zealand exotic plantation forests : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Business Studies in Ergonomics at Massey Universityen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
massey.contributor.authorKirk, Patrick Michael
thesis.degree.disciplineErgonomicsen_US
thesis.degree.grantorMassey Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Business Studies (M.B.S.)en_US
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