The aim of this study was to clarify the ergonomics of forest tractor drivers' sitting conditions. to study how well drivers had adjusted the seats of forest tractors and to study the short-term effect of the backrest adjustment adn the use of accessory lumbar support on neck-shoulder and low-back symptoms of drivers. The subjects in this field study were 100 male forest tractor drivers aged 21-50 years (37 +- 7 years) from central and eastern Finland. The drivers were visited twice, and a two-week intervetnion on seat adjustment was carried out between the visits. The methods used were interview and assesment of the seat. The height and inclination of the seat, inclination of the backreast and the stiffness of the spring were measured; after the measurements, the technician adjusted the seat. Half of the drivers were given an accessory lumbar support (Camp 21025) and advicee concerning its use. Pain, stiffness and fatigue of the low-back and neck-shoulder at the end of the shift were reported to have diminished among nearly all drivers. There were no differences between the intervention groups regardless of whether the inclination of the backrest was adjusted or not or whether the drivers had used the lumbar support or not during the two-week intervention period. (A)
Abstract