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

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Safety (Basel)
• Personal Author:
  Newman, Soren M. ; Keefe, Robert F. ; Brooks, Randall H. ; Ahonen, Emily Q. ; Wempe, Ann M.
• 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.
• Subjects:
  Article Cable Logging Forestry Workers Global Navigation Satellite System-Radio Frequency (GNSS-RF) Internet Of Things Interviews Location-based Services Logging Safety Mixed Methods Situational Awareness Survey

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• Source:
  Safety (Basel). 4(4).
• Pubmed ID:
  30515383
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC6275098
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  U01 OH010841/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States
• Volume:
  4
• Issue:
  4
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:ea6304b2994e3b9d6be8efad4a20a68c0e348d1b61c59f567ab590b8b9e77866
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/61230/cdc_61230_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 288.82 KB ]