Koki Inoue

Operators' Physical Strain in Operating the High Proficient Forestry Machines

This study was undertaken to assess physical strain during work in forestry workers operating high quality forestry machines. The types of machine used in this study consisted of harvesters, processors, tower yarders, forwarders and excavators. Characterization of labor load in operation of these five types of machine and fatigue sensation in operators was attempted mainly from the physical burden inflicted on them. The results showed that though the heart rate, an indicator of physical strain, stayed low in all types of work, assessment of labor stress on the basis of heart rate was difficult and that local pain, a manifestation of physical strain, developed in operators. The results suggested the necessity of improving labor conditions in operators of these machines.

Improvement of forest management in Asia, through assessment of Forest Stewardship Council certification

The purpose of this study was to compare the present condition of forest management in Asian countries using results of evaluations from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification bodies. In recent years, the number of FSC-certified forests has increased in Asia. Our investigation examined certified forests in Asian countries, which, as of 2009, accounted for 2.39% of total global certified forest area (2,761,603 ha). Materials were taken from summary evaluations published by each FSC certification body on its respective website. The FSC uses 10 principles and 56 criteria in its evaluation. We investigated the items that the FSC certification bodies consider to be areas that require improvement. Of these principles and criteria, the following were cited by the certification bodies as RI (requiring improvement) in nearly all Asian countries: principle four, “community relations and workers rights”; principle six, “environmental impacts”; principle seven, “management plan”; and principle eight, “monitoring and assessment”. In addition, there were differences corresponding to each country with respect to the other principles and criteria. Laos, Indonesia, and Malaysia in particular were found to have a number of problems. Thus, while there were differences in the principles that qualified as RI in each country, there were also common weak points that require improvement throughout the continent. Asian countries should be mindful of these deficiencies and take measures to improve them, in order to achieve sustainable forest management practices.

Factor analysis of risk-taking behavior in forest work

In this study, the data obtained by a questionnaire survey were analyzed to examine the difference with the type of occupation, consistency in each situation, the inductive and restraint factors of the risk-taking behavior in the forest work to elucidate the risk-taking behavior in forest work. The results showed that (1) the Kyushu Forest Cooperative Association’s staff members underestimate the risk, but have a strong recognition of “law observance,” (2) the supervisor or instructor has low consciousness of risk, (3) as the inductive factor of behavior, one’s own benefit in the daily situation is given the highest priority, but risk is the most important factor in situations concerning forest work and forest machine operation and handling, irrespective of the accuracy of the risk evaluation, (4) as the restraint factor of behavior, although there is a difference in the risk evaluation whether large or small, risk is given priority by all workers, and (5) the dare probability of each risk-taking behavior is highly correlated with the risk evaluation of the behavior. Among others, low consciousness of the supervisor or instructor concerning safety management is pointed out as a main factor in worker’s accidents, and reconsideration of the relationship between the supervisor or instructor and workers is necessary.