Prethodno priopćenje
Working Conditions and Productivity Under Private and Public Logging Companies in Tanzania
Dos Santos A. Silayo
; Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Forest Engineering, P.O Box 3012, Morogoro, TANZANIA
Said S. Kiparu
; Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation, P.O Box 3009, Morogoro, TANZANIA
Ernest W. Mauya
; Sokoine University of Agriculture, Department of Forest Engineering, P.O Box 3012, Morogoro, TANZANIA
Dunstan T. K. Shemwetta
; Nelson Mandela Institute of Science and Technology, P.O Box 447, Arusha, TANZANIA
Sažetak
Industrial timber harvesting in plantation forests in Tanzania was solely performed by public agencies until mid 1980’s. During that period harvesting operations were labour-intensive and semi-mechanized, coupled with low production rates and high production costs. Following the privatization of forestry industries, logging is currently being carried out by private companies. This study was carried out to assess and compare working conditions, physical workload and productivity in logging operations under private and public logging regimes. Data were collected in Sao Hill Forest plantations from a clear felling operation being carried out in a 26 years old Pinus patula stand. Time study was undertaken for tree cutting, skidding, manual bunching and loading operations. Physical workload data were obtained through heart rate measurement by using portable electronic heart rate monitor. Working conditions were assessed through ergonomic checklist administered to 45 loggers. The results indicated that the productivity in tree cutting averaged 4.7m3/h and 3.4m3/h for chainsaw and crosscut operations respectively, while in bunching and loading the respective values of 5.1m3/h and 11.3m3/h made higher production on the private regime as compared to the public. The working conditions were generally poor with low safety, inadequate payment and poor working tools coupled with high labour turnover. The physical workload was 78% and 65% heart rate increase for crosscut saw and chainsaw crews. This is a slight increase compared to the public logging regime estimated at 65% and 57% increase for crosscut saw and chainsaw respectively. However, the increased productivity observed in the private regime was not due to improved working conditions, but rather a result of the workers’ higher engagement and placed effort in performing production tasks. Training of the crews, improvement of payments, supervision and provision of safety gears are recommended for improved production and reduced occupational health hazards.
Ključne riječi
Workers safety; physical workload; costs; timber harvesting; Tanzania
Hrčak ID:
56929
URI
Datum izdavanja:
15.6.2010.
Posjeta: 3.049 *