Influence of working conditions on overlapping of cutting and ground skidding in group work

This research deals with the influence of working conditions on the duration of cutters participation in group work skidding. Two main theoretical assumptions were considered. First, working conditions that decrease the skidding efficiency increase the time of cutters assistance, because the group as a whole strives to improve efficiency, and second, the duration of assistance to the working group is specific regardless of working conditions. The research included 5 places of research (compartments) in Slovenian state forests, with 3 working groups consisting of two cutters and a cable skidder driver. All working groups used the cable skidder IWAFUJI–T41. The model included 100 cycles of downhill timber skidding. We have established that the duration of cutters assistance is reciprocal to the skidding distance, average bunching distance and number of logs in the load. The model accounts for 40.7% of the whole variability. After excluding the influence of working conditions between the groups, there are no typical differences in the duration of cutters assistance. Results imply that the number of working group members should be adjusted to working conditions. On the other hand, insignificant differences of cutters assistance duration between the groups show that the mere group daily standard is a motivational factor big enough for the rationalization of group work of workers who are not additionally educated and qualified for group work