An ergonomic study of arborist work activities

Abstract

Arborists work in high-risk environments, particularly when climbing trees, where a combination of grip strength and resistance to psychological stress are important attributes for safety. This study investigated the physical and cognitive activities of arborists combined with selected workload factors such as blood pressure, pulse, handgrip strength, and other anthropometric measurements, including manual dexterity and spatial awareness. The sample included 10 participants aged 17-48 years. Blood pressure was negatively correlated with handgrip strength after the activity had been performed. Different types of arborist activities led to various types of physiological feedback, as shown by the analysis of variance. According to our results, there is a difference between physical workloads, associated with activities such as tree felling, tree climbing, or chainsaw maintenance, and cognitive workloads, such as supervision or observation, in relation to blood pressure. Blood pressure was higher for activities that involved a cognitive workload. Before and after any activity, handgrip strength was positively associated with hand size. After any activity, greater changes in handgrip strength of the participant's right hand were associated with needing more time to successfully complete a peg test, which represents a greater cognitive burden. Our results suggest that arborists deal with physical activities such as tree felling, tree climbing, working with a chainsaw, and mental activities (supervising or observing) which were identified as two different groups correlated with hand grip strength, blood pressure, manual dexterity, and spatial awareness. In conclusion, the tree-climbing activity appeared to be the least stressful, and psychological stress appeared to have a greater impact on the health of observers and supervisors in the study group. This can be applied to other professions in many fields, including industries where workers face both physical and cognitive workloads.