Work

The Psychophysiological Interrelationship Between Working Conditions and Stress of Harvester and Forwarder Drivers—A Study Protocol

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: (1) Background: Austria’s use of fully mechanized harvesting systems has been continuously increasing. Technical developments, such as traction aid winches, have made it possible to drive on increasingly steep terrain. However, this has led to challenges and potential hazards for the operators, resulting in higher stand damage rates and risks of workplace accidents. Since these systems and working environments involve a highly complex interplay of various parameters, the purpose of this protocol is to propose a new set of methodologies that can be used to obtain a holistic interpretation of the psychophysiological interrelationship between the working conditions and stress of harvester and forwarder drivers. (2) Methods: We developed a research protocol to analyse the (a) environmental and (b) machine-related parameters; (c) psychological and psychophysiological responses of the operators; and (d) technical outcome parameters. Within this longitudinal exploratory field study, experienced drivers were monitored for over an hour at the beginning and the end of their workday while operating in varying steep terrains with and without a traction aid winch. The analysis is based on macroscopic (collected using cameras), microscopic (eye-tracking glasses and AI-driven emotion recognition), quantitative (standardized questionnaires), and qualitative (interviews) data. This multimodal research protocol aims to improve the health and safety of forest workers, increase their productivity, and reduce damage to remaining trees.

Source: Forests

DOI: 10.3390/f16111693

Authors: Vera Foisner, Christoph Haas, Katharina Göttlicher, Arnulf Hartl, Christoph Huber

Institutions: Paracelsus Medical University, Austrian Research Centre for Forests

Language: English

Topic: Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces

Subfield: Occupational Therapy

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Decent work and economic growth, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137