Logging operations in terms of forest labor health

The purpose of this study is to do general health checks of the workers engaged in forest harvesting work, detecting disorders caused by the effect of work, determining of protective measures necessary to be taken in the work environment. In this case, forest workers have a high level of health problems, and hence work productivity is affected. With this research by doing general health checks of 30 different forest worker who served in different branches of wood production such as measurement-assortment-delimbing, distant transportation, chainsaw and tractor operator, the discomforts of forest workers have been detected and the causes of these disorders was investigated in relation to wood production works. Forest workers are observed to have serious health problems at 75% rate. 60% of the most important health problems are back and waist pains and 46% are orthopedic disorders in hands, feet and joints. After physical examination following taking chest x-rays, chronic bronchitis and pharyngitis were determined in 67% of forest workers. In addition, orthopedic disorders resulting from traumas like crashing or falling were observed in 75% of forest workers following examinations by an orthopedic expert. Pains depending on fraying in feet and hand joints and bone deformations called as heel spur were also observed. Hearing loss at significant rate was observed in 70% of forest workers following the examinations by an expert in ear-nose-throat disorders. According to the results regarding cardiologic health conditions, cardiologic disorders were determined in 17% of forest workers. As a result physical performance test, serious cardiologic disorders were determined in 10% of forest workers. The METs value average taken into consideration at the evaluation of performances was in perfect group as 13.75 METs. Physiologic work load values obtained from field studies were 36.59% in chain-saw machine operators, 20.19% in tractor operators, 32.07% in assistant workers (measurement-logging) and 18.87% in distant transportation operators. Data regarding 74 variables about the health conditions of forest workers were evaluated and factor analysis resulted that the factors that are most effective on the health conditions of workers were hearing loss, experience and blood characteristics, orthopedic disorders, white blood cells, blood coagulation, blood rate in urine, physical strength, fatness and pulse values. Forest workers' performance and capacity based on the heaviness of the work should be taken into consideration, experienced workers especially for cutting works with chainsaw should be preferred. The evaluation of occupational health and safety risk analysis in the forestry works should be conducted. The use of personal protective equipment in appropriate standards such as ear protectors, work gloves and safety boots should be compulsory. Forest workers should be provided technical, health and safety training and covered by insurance. General medical examination should undergo two times before and after intensive harvesting season in a year.