Abstract
Despite of prevention measures such as government regulations and recommendations through technical and managerial researches, unsafe working practices are still a common practice in Indonesia's forestry work, especially in tree harvesting operation. In order to determine competency level of both field supervisor and workers as a baseline in developing participatory occupational safety and health (OSH) protection program, a previously developed competency assessing instrument has been modified. Further, the redesigned instrument was used to verify competency level of field supervisor and forestry workers (chainsawman, hauling workers, and truck drivers) from 6 different forest sites with similar working method. Results showed that both group of respondents had overestimated their competency level in practical aspect, indicated by the gap existence between OSH self-perception value and the standard-based assessment value. The gap significantly occurred in knowledge, skill, and attitude elements; however working attitudes rest in the worst level. This finding then indicated that improving working attitude should be taken as the goal priority in the OSH protection programs in Indonesia. In short, when the discussion is pointed to practical activities, OSH protection program should adapt such strategies which put serious consideration on control mechanism.
Highlights
It is undeniable facts that forest harvesting operation is a heavy work
Serious consideration should be paid to this work productivity-based payment system operation, as most of the workers involved on a basis of self-employed worker
A timber harvesting supervisor has a responsibility to ensure that timber harvesting is progressing well according to the procedure and the set target. This means, a field supervisor have to make arrangements on logging operations workers, hauling workers, and transportation workers, as well as make quick decisions on technical problems that may occur from time to time, such as completion of snagging a tree fall down the wrong direction or the arrangement of working time due to weather disruptions
Summary
The burden had worsen due to combination of hot and humid air, uneven forest floor, biological threats, large and heavy material, and unpredictable wheater resulted in difficult working environment. This working environment triggers additional load to the worker, such as exceeding workload (Takimoto et al 2004; Yovi et al 2005ab; 2006) and heat stress (Kroemer et al 1994; Cullen & Nadel 1994). Serious consideration should be paid to this work productivity-based payment system operation, as most of the workers involved on a basis of self-employed worker This combination has put work productivity as the worker's priority, and give less attention to safety and health aspects (Yovi 2009). Eventhough tropical climate benefiting the worker in a way of lower hand-arm vibration syndrome risk (Futatsuka et al 1995), the effects of noise and vibration exposures may be exacerbated (Crutchfield & Sparks 1991) as the workers tend to be more isolated than workers in other types of industry
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