Human Factors Affecting Logging Injury Incidents in Idaho and the Potential for Real-Time Location-Sharing Technology to Improve Safety

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ahonen EQ ; Brooks RH ; Keefe RF ; Newman SM ; Wempe AM
• Description:
  Human factors, including inadequate situational awareness, can contribute to fatal and near-fatal traumatic injuries in logging, which is among the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Real-time location-sharing technology may help improve situational awareness for loggers. We surveyed and interviewed professional logging contractors in Idaho to (1) characterize current perceptions of in-woods hazards and the human factors that lead to injuries; (2) understand their perspectives on using technology-based location-sharing solutions to improve safety in remote work environments; and (3) identify logging hazard scenarios that could be mitigated using location-sharing technology. We found production pressure, fatigue, and inexperience among the most-common factors contributing to logging injuries from the perspective of participants. Potential limitations of location-sharing technology identified included potential for distraction and cost. Contractors identified several situations where the technology may help improve safety, including (1) alerting workers of potential hand-faller injuries due to lack of movement; (2) helping rigging crews to maintain safe distances from yarded trees and logs during cable logging; and (3) providing a means for equipment operators to see approaching ground workers, especially in low-visibility situations. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Forestry Hazardous Substances Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Cable Logging Forestry Workers Global Navigation Satellite System-Radio Frequency (GNSS-RF) Hazard Recognition Human Factors Engineering Internet Of Things Interviews Location-based Services Logging Industry Logging Safety Logging Workers Mixed Methods Situational Awareness Survey Traumatic Injuries

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• ISSN:
  2313-576X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Idaho ; Indiana ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  43
• Volume:
  4
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053966
• Citation:
  Safety 2018 Dec; 4(4):43
• Contact Point Address:
  Soren M. Newman, Office of Grant and Project Development, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
• Email:
  newman@uidaho.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  University of Idaho
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20150901
• Source Full Name:
  Safety
• End Date:
  20180831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6fdddb3a0ec2b435717dbc6473f549ad14d1c6ed2d61a34509ed62a039749defd414bbb05a5ae166504060d8f8e83ec5efadc2c3dd3cfa462b3ba1cad80cbd45
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216622/cdc_216622_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 615.58 KB ]