Abstract
The levels of exposure whole-body vibration (WBV) while performing mechanized soil preparation operations are concerning due to the exposure time of operators at their work stations, adverse terrain topography, and types of wheels on the machines used. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the exposure to WBV in bulldozers and hydraulic excavators in performing soil preparation for forest plantation in order to identify possible ergonomic problems and propose improvements in working conditions. The study was carried out in Paraná State, Brazil, in a Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus grandis stand hybrid, being registered with use of a vibration meter and triaxial accelerometer coupled to the seat of the machines, the resulting acceleration to normalized exposure (aren) and the resulting vibration dose (VDVR) for a period of 8 working hours, following the Occupational Hygiene Standard 09. The results showed aren and VDVR values of 1.0 m s-2 and 18.3 m s-1.75 in the bulldozer, while in the hydraulic excavator it was 0.7 m s-2 and 13.5 m s-1.75, respectively, with a statistically significant difference between the machines by the Wilcoxon test for independent samples (α ≤ 0.05). The WBV levels were above the action level and below the exposure limit in both machines, with the bulldozer showing values above the uncertainty level. Therefore, substituting machines specifically designed for soil preparation and improvements in work organization are measures indicated to reduce ergonomic problems.
Highlights
The planted forest sector in Brazil consists of 7.8 million hectares and presented a growth of 38% in area between the years 2005 and 2018, standing out worldwide due to the favorable soil and climate conditions for obtaining high productivity for Eucalyptus and Pinus stands
This growth is due to the investment in high-tech machinery and equipment used in the production process, as a total of R$3.9 billion was invested in forests in Brazil only in 2018, with 6% allocated for the acquisition of machinery and forestry equipment (IBÁ, 2019)
The climate of the region was classified as subtropical (Cfa) according to the Köppen classification, with mean annual temperatures between 17.1 to 18.0 oC and mean annual rainfall between 1,400 to 1,600 mm (ALVARES et al, 2013)
Summary
The planted forest sector in Brazil consists of 7.8 million hectares and presented a growth of 38% in area between the years 2005 and 2018, standing out worldwide due to the favorable soil and climate conditions for obtaining high productivity for Eucalyptus and Pinus stands. This growth is due to the investment in high-tech machinery and equipment used in the production process, as a total of R$3.9 billion was invested in forests in Brazil only in 2018, with 6% allocated for the acquisition of machinery and forestry equipment (IBÁ, 2019).
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