LAUSR

Abstract Technological advances available in wood harvesting machines have provided productivity improvements and more comfort in forestry operations. However, operators may be exposed to whole-body vibration which can lead to a wide variety of health disorders and industry losses. This research aimed to evaluate the exposure of workers to whole-body vibration in thinning harvesting operations comparing two models of harvesters (tracked and wheeled) working in Pinus taeda stands submitted to the first commercial thinning. Whole-body vibration was determined by the three orthogonal axes (X, Y, and Z) using a 3-Axis integrator vibration meter, and the data were analyzed according to the criteria established by the ISO 2631–1:1997 and the European Directive, 2002/44/EC, concerning the resulting acceleration from normalized exposure A (8) and value of the resulting vibration dose value (VDV). The acceleration and vibration levels obtained by the tracked harvester presented mean values of A (8) of 0.6 m/s2 and VDV 11.2 m/s1.75, while by the wheeled harvester, mean values were A (8) of 0.4 m/s2 and VDV 9.3 m/s1.75, respectively. It was possible to verify the expressive vibration from the tracked harvester analysis, the operators were exposed to the whole-body vibration above the limits recommended by the regulating norms.