Forest Ergonomics

Course Information
TitleΔΑΣΙΚΗ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΟΛΟΓΙΑ / Forest Ergonomics
Code111Ε
FacultyAgriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment
SchoolForestry and Natural Environment
Cycle / Level1st / Undergraduate
Teaching PeriodWinter
CommonNo
StatusInactive
Course ID420000103
Class Information
Academic Year2025 – 2026
Class PeriodWinter
Faculty Instructors
Weekly Hours3
Total Hours39
Class ID
600273678
Course Type 2021
Specialization / Direction
Course Type 2011-2015
Knowledge Deepening / Consolidation
Mode of Delivery
  • Face to face
Digital Course Content
Erasmus
The course is also offered to exchange programme students.
Language of Instruction
  • Greek (Instruction, Examination)
  • English (Instruction, Examination)
Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the course, students will be able to: 1. Understand the basic principles of ergonomics and their application in forestry work, with an emphasis on muscle work and dynamic and static effort techniques. 2. Identify and evaluate the main tools and machinery used in wood harvesting, as well as understand their operation and maintenance. 3. Describe the phases of the wood harvesting process, such as felling, delimbing, cutting, and transportation, and apply the appropriate techniques. 4. Assess the effectiveness of training systems for forestry workers and propose improvements based on international practices. 5. Evaluate the risks associated with exposure to noise, hazardous substances, and vibrations, and recommend measures to improve health and safety in the workplace. 6. Analyze the impact of the working conditions (e.g. vegetation, terrain) on the performance and safety of forestry workers.
General Competences
  • Apply knowledge in practice
  • Retrieve, analyse and synthesise data and information, with the use of necessary technologies
  • Adapt to new situations
  • Make decisions
  • Work autonomously
  • Work in teams
  • Work in an interdisciplinary team
  • Generate new research ideas
  • Respect natural environment
  • Advance free, creative and causative thinking
Course Content (Syllabus)
The course content includes the following: Introduction to ergonomics with definitions and basic concepts, such as muscle work, dynamic and static work, with a focus on forestry work. Presentation of the main tools used in wood harvesting, such as axes, saws (manual and motorized), wedges, hooks, log turners, and hammers. Analysis of safety measures and additional tools, such as debarkers and other machinery, as well as the use of animals. Examination of the phases of wood harvesting, including felling, felling direction, felling technique, shaping, delimbing, cutting, debarking of logs, hewing, firewood splitting, and the transportation of logs to collection sites (logyards). The course also examines the forestry workforce, the training of forestry workers, and the form and effectiveness of training systems in other countries. Additionally, it analyzes the risks of worker exposure to noise, hazardous substances, and vibrations, as well as the impact of climatic conditions. In this context, time studies, timing methods, payment methods for forestry workers, and the importance of work psychology are presented, along with workforce satisfaction, accident analysis, and measures to promote health and safety at work.
Keywords
Human factors, ergonomics, work science
Educational Material Types
  • Notes
  • Slide presentations
  • Multimedia
  • Book
Use of Information and Communication Technologies
Use of ICT
  • Use of ICT in Course Teaching
  • Use of ICT in Laboratory Teaching
  • Use of ICT in Communication with Students
Description
Use of multimedia during the theory and laboratory exercises. Extensive email use for communication purposes with the students.
Course Organization
ActivitiesWorkloadECTSIndividualTeamworkErasmus
Lectures30
Laboratory Work20
Reading Assigment20
Written assigments18
Exams2
Total90
Student Assessment
Description
At the beginning of the semester, a series of mandatory introductory lectures is conducted. Following this, students are offered the following options for assessment: a) Writing a research paper based on data collection, with a presentation at the end of the semester b) Writing a literature review paper, also with a presentation at the end of the semester c) Participation in a written or oral exam with open-ended questions. Choosing the examination option (written or oral) does not entail a reduced workload. Students who select this form of assessment are required to actively participate in the semester’s teaching activities (e.g., exercises, additional lectures), in order to ensure equivalence in learning outcomes compared to options (a) and (b).
Student Assessment methods
  • Written Exam with Multiple Choice Questions (Formative, Summative)
  • Written Exam with Short Answer Questions (Formative, Summative)
  • Written Exam with Extended Answer Questions (Formative, Summative)
  • Written Assignment (Formative, Summative)
  • Oral Exams (Formative, Summative)
  • Performance / Staging (Formative, Summative)
  • Labortatory Assignment (Formative, Summative)
Bibliography
Course Bibliography (Eudoxus)
Μαρμαράς Ν. και Ναθαναήλ Δ. 2015. Εισαγωγή στην Εργονομία. Διαθέσιμο στο αποθετήριο Κάλιππος στη διεύθυνση http://hdl.handle.net/11419/513.
Additional bibliography for study
FAO, 1992. Introduction to ergonomics in forestry in developing countries. FAO FORESTRY PAPER 100, p. 208. http://www.fao.org/3/ap419e/ap419e00.pdf USDA 1980 Protect Your Hearing! Equip. Tips. Revision No.2. USDA. U.S. Department of Agriculture - Forest Service Equipment Development Center. SanDimas, California , U.S.A. Potočnik and Poje 2017. Forestry ergonomics and occupational safety in high ranking scientific journals from 2005-2016. Croatian Journal of Forest Engineering 38(2):291-310 Fraser, T.M., 1980. Ergonomic principles in the Design of HandTools. Occupational Safety and Health Series. No. 44. Geneva, SWitzerland. FAO/ECE/ILO, 1983. Ergonomics Applied to Forestry. Proceedings, 17-22 October 1983. Vienna and Ossiach, Austria. Economic Commission for Europe.
Last Update
26-06-2025