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ABSTRACT Many studies on ergonomics in forestry operations are punctual and assess ergonomic variables in isolation, with each result being obtained on a specific scale. Thus, the objective of this study was to improve an ergonomic indicator through a classification according to the urgency of the ergonomic intervention, to improve its practicality of application in forest harvesting machines. This research was carried out in planted forests of a company in Southern Brazil, and based on ergonomic evaluations of a feller buncher, a skidder, a forest processor, harvesters, and forwarder machines during the day and night shifts. Vibration, noise, heat, illumination, repeatability, postures, and visibility angles were measured. The results of the ergonomic assessments were standardized by adapting the ergonomic Degree of Compliance (V) method calculated with the legislation norms, having a value between 0 and 1, and the higher the value, the greater the compliance with effective norms and guidelines. It was proposed to classify the degree of ergonomic urgency in different colors. The skidder showed the worst degrees of compliance, requiring emergency corrective measures, with an emphasis on vibrations (V 0.0 and 0.1), noise (V 0.2) and visibility in the lateral plane (V 0.0) in both shifts worked due to shocks and bumps in the machine's movements and visibility difficulty in the operation, in addition to illumination (V 0.6) at night and heat (V 0.8) in the daytime. The forestry processor showed the best ergonomic performance without any urgencies but emphasizing care with noise (V 0.7 and 0.8) and the daily dose of vibration (V 0.8 and 0.7) in both shifts. The classification by a color scale made it possible to better interpret the indicators and facilitate the practical application of corrective ergonomic interventions.

Wood secondary processing operations generate large amounts of airborne particulates. Inhalation of this material can lead to the development of work-related respiratory diseases. The Brazilian legislation does not define threshold limit values for airborne wood particles, and local studies are required to provide a technical basis for establishing these limits by regulation. This study aimed to determine the concentration and size of airborne wood particles of Eucalyptus spp. in woodworking shops. Analysis of the concentration of airborne particles was carried out using a gravimetric sampling pump and collector filters. The size of airborne particles was determined using microscope slides and an optical microscope coupled to an image capture system. Air samples were collected near different machines (belt sander, table saw, and band saw) at five woodworking shops located in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Of the three machines, the belt sander produced the most harmful type of particulate matter: the small size of these particles allows their deposition deep into the respiratory tract. Particulate matter was above the threshold limit value established by international standards. To prevent the risk of severe health effects, there is an urgent and imperative need to reduce worker exposure levels (by the use of collective and personal protective equipment) as well as for the implementation of specific regulations that define particulate exposure limits for the wood sector in Brazil. ; As operações de processamento secundário de madeira geram grande quantidade de particulados suspensos no ar. A inalação desse material pode estimular o aparecimento de doenças respiratórias nos trabalhadores expostos nestes ambientes de trabalho. No entanto, no Brasil ainda não há um limite de tolerância definido para partículas de madeira suspensas, necessitando de estudos para embasamento técnico e definição desse limite. Objetivou-se mensurar a concentração e dimensão das partículas de madeira de Eucalyptus spp. suspensas no ar em marcenarias. A análise da concentração das partículas suspensas foi desenvolvida pela utilização de bomba gravimétrica e coletores com filtros. Para dimensionar as partículas suspensas no ar usou-se lâminas, microscópio e fotografias. Os dados foram coletados na lixadeira, serra circular e serra fita, em cinco marcenarias semelhantes, no estado do Espírito Santo. Os particulados mais danosos à saúde humana foram provenientes da lixadeira, que pela pequena dimensão facilitam a deposição nas partes mais prejudiciais ao trato respiratório humano. Constatou-se que as concentrações de partículas suspensas encontradas estão acima dos limites recomendados pelas normas internacionais. Diante do risco de danos severos a saúde, há a necessidade urgente e imprescindível de implementação de medidas para redução dos níveis de exposição (EPC e EPI), bem como a implementação de normatização específica com limites de exposição máximo definidos para o setor no Brasil.

ABSTRACT Wood secondary processing operations generate large amounts of airborne particulates. Inhalation of this material can lead to the development of work-related respiratory diseases. The Brazilian legislation does not define threshold limit values for airborne wood particles, and local studies are required to provide a technical basis for establishing these limits by regulation. This study aimed to determine the concentration and size of airborne wood particles of Eucalyptus spp. in woodworking shops. Analysis of the concentration of airborne particles was carried out using a gravimetric sampling pump and collector filters. The size of airborne particles was determined using microscope slides and an optical microscope coupled to an image capture system. Air samples were collected near different machines (belt sander, table saw, and band saw) at five woodworking shops located in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Of the three machines, the belt sander produced the most harmful type of particulate matter: the small size of these particles allows their deposition deep into the respiratory tract. Particulate matter was above the threshold limit value established by international standards. To prevent the risk of severe health effects, there is an urgent and imperative need to reduce worker exposure levels (by the use of collective and personal protective equipment) as well as for the implementation of specific regulations that define particulate exposure limits for the wood sector in Brazil.

ABSTRACT High concentrations of airborne dust are observed during the cutting of medium density fiberboard (MDF) boards. This dust, at first considered just uncomfortable for workers, may be harmful to their health. The objective of this work was to evaluate the concentration of airborne dust during the cutting of medium density fiberboard (MDF). The experiment was developed in the MDF cutting sector of three furniture factories located in the city of Lavras/MG. The results showed that the mean concentrations of total dust suspended in these three furniture factories were above the tolerance limit set by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), giving evidence of a serious problem in these companies related to this type of risk agent.

Measuring public expenses with workforce in fighting forest fire. The frequency of forest fires and the lack of investment in public institutions arising from the current Brazilian economic crisis, emerges the difficulty of competent institutions in managing resources due to the increasing number of fires, mainly the labor. The objective of this work was to measure the expenses with labor in the combats against forest fires in Public Conservation Units by comparing it with the labor with prevention. This exploratory, documentary and ex post facto study was prepared based on documents and reports from public institutions involved in fighting a major fire in a Biological Reserve in the State of Espírito Santo. The data were analyzed according to the participating institutions, number of participants, positions, value of remunerations and days worked. To measure the average daily expenditure on different remunerations, an accounting model was developed, using the values of the remunerations for the year in which the fire occurred. In the end, it could be concluded that, for every 124.3 hectares burned, 110 individuals worked per day, the majority were military personnel at the beginning of their careers and that the expenditure on public labor employed in combat, both in quantity and remuneration, was much higher than the labor with the temporary hiring of firefighters.