Workload in wood harvesting and among transportation professionals - A study based on survey research in Finland

Abstract

This study focused on workload in forest harvesting and among transportation professionals and included all professional groups of the occupational sector: timber truck drivers, plant drivers, loggers and timber workers, officers, and other workers. A postal and Internet survey (N = 1282, response rate 32 %) comprised five variables indicating workload: stress, sense of control, mental load, working hours per week, and harmful factors at work. A random sampling (N = 4000), adjusted to professional groups, was carried out based on different databases and a register including information about forestry professionals. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated the associated variables of stress. Over half of the sample respondents (59 %) reported stress and nearly half (47 %) assessed their work as mentally straining. Poor recovery from work was especially associated with stress. The average number of working hours per week (44.9 h) was large, and several respondent groups worked over 50 h per week. The most common harmful factors at work were sitting for a long time, similar, repetitive work movements, working alone, vibration, and coldness or draft. Vulnerable groups to workload were those with higher education levels, officers, women, and employers. Cooperation between stakeholders is needed to alleviate the heavy workload in this work sector, which includes a lot of small enterprises and self-employed persons working in a changing operational environment.