Ergonomics in Forestry

Experience has taught us that technical improvements which do not improve the lot of the worker are not real improvements. The paper considers shortly the changes which might improve safety, health, comfort, and efficiency, and examines the simple physiological methods involving measurement of pulse beat developed by Dr. N. Lundgren in the study of heavy and complex work such as forest work. Where less complex work is studied, more precise methods such as the measurement of oxygen intake can be adopted. The moot question of whether heavy work has in the long run any ill eSect on health and working capacity is considered.