ABSTRACT
This paper reports the initial results from a major research project involving the UK forestry industry. This has been funded by the Health and Saftey Executive to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among tree harvester operators and the risk factors involved. Evidence of problems within the UK forestry industry has come to the fore over the last few years, with concerns being raised by the industry and unions. Technological advances have transformed tree harvesting from a heavy manual task into a relatively sedentary occupation seated at the controls of a mechanical harvester. The development of multiprocessing harvester heads has created a new generation of forestry vehicles which can fell, delimb, cut and stack a tree in a continuous sequence of operations. A positive effect of the change has been the decline of major injuries such as broken legs, amputations and lacerations. Unfortunately, such incidences have been replaced by reports of more subtle musculoskeletal injuries, the causes of which are harder to identify.
