The Psychosocial Risk Factors Evaluation and Management of Shift Personnel at Forest Harvesting

Abstract

The study describes psychosocial risk factors at work in relation to the general functional state of a body, working capacity and stress among shift workers at a logging enterprise in the Far North. The study involved 153 loggers with a 14-day shift period. Research methods included the psychophysiological instrumental method (variocardiointervalometry) used to assess the general functional state of a body, M. Luscher’s color test to assess working capacity and stress and QNordic to assess psychosocial factors. Statistical analysis was performed using multiple stepwise regression analysis and frequency analysis. It was found that 71.1% of employees have a favorable general functional state of the body, 28.9%—unfavorable; the forest loggers who took part in the survey have a high level of working capacity and a low level of stress. It was substantiated that the general functional state of a body, stress and working capacity, measured by objective and subjective methods, are differentially interconnected with psychosocial factors at work. The general functional state of forest harvesting workers is influenced by factors of labor content, intensity and organization. The relationships with the immediate supervisor are important in order to increase the working capacity and efficiency of employees as well as their involvement in work.