A collective work science approach to: Solving the common problems of occupational health and performance in European forest operations SMEs

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1 COMFOR A collective work science approach to: Solving the common problems of occupational health and performance in European forest operations SMEs Objective and Scope The vision of COMFOR is to develop an innovative knowledge transfer concept for SMEs in forest operations. This will enable the adoption of ergonomically effective work practices and mitigate the problems of poor occupational health and economic performance. COMFOR will create added value through a more competitive and sustainable forestry workforce in Europe. The objective of COMFOR is to transform science into practice by researching and developing means and measures which will enable encourage SMEs to adopt ergonomically sound working practices. COMFOR will train the national Forestry Contracting Associations in these methods of knowledge transfer, thus mobilising the results of the research to a wide body of forestry contractors in Europe. Knowledge Transfer to improve Health and Performance The change from direct employees to entrepreneurs working in forest operations, accompanied by time and production pressures and poor financial returns are having a major effect on Small and Medium size Enterprises (SMEs) working in forest operations throughout Europe. As a result, the economic pressure on entrepreneurs and occupational health problems in forestry work are increasing. Current ergonomic research provides answers for healthier working practices which also improve performance. However, putting science into practice is difficult for these businesses who face practical and financial barriers to change their way of working, and who are not in a position to undertake research and development themselves. The spread of mechanised harvesting systems throughout Europe has brought new problems of occupational health to the micro-businesses and SMEs which undertake these forest operations. Research and development has demonstrated the link between ergonomically sound working practices and improved health, leading eventually to improved economic performance. However, due to a range of financial, social and cultural pressures these businesses have shown a reluctance to adopt ergonomically efficient methods of working. Despite regional differences in economy and culture, forest operations businesses broadly face the same constraints all over Europe. This pan-european problem of poor occupational health and economic performance calls for a collective solution. The COMFOR team provides an excellent vehicle to solve the underlying problem of knowledge transfer, and will add value by delivering its results at the European level. The project has been designed to maximise the impact of the results on forestry SMEs transforming research into practical application. COMFOR is funded by the European Commission COLL-CT-2006 Project Number

2 Research and Development to customise Results for Forestry Contractors Needs COMFOR has gathered a consortium which is directed by ten forest entrepreneurs (SMEs), who will provide research demands, test and pilot the solutions and are assisted by their National Entrepreneur Associations. Three universities with proven track records in ergonomics & economics, learning and knowledge transfer, and the implications of regional structural change will undertake the basic research. Six applied Research, Training and Development Organisations (RTDs) from across North, West Central and East Central Europe will ensure that the results of this project are fit for purpose in their practical application to forest operations businesses. ENFE representing national forestry contracting Associations and QfF in Germany, a social partnership, will disseminate the results and train the national Entrepreneur Associations in the use of the knowledge transfer packages, thus mobilising the results of the research to a wide body of businesses. This consortium will undertake a 3 year pan-european project of integrated work science research linked to the most effective ways of transferring knowledge to forestry operations SMEs. This will include new research into the impact of structural change across the European wood supply chain, the economic benefits of ergonomic investment and the learning patterns of SMEs. The main output will be an innovative knowledge transfer package for the improvement of health and performance, customised for SMEs operating in three European regions. Core SMEs will trial the knowledge transfer package and the results will be disseminated widely to the forestry industry and other stakeholders. National Contractors Associations will be trained in the knowledge transfer best practice, thus building capacity across Europe. Three European regions: North West central East central COMFOR will work in three regions: North, West Central and East Central Europe 2

3 There are four major Work Packages in the project: 1 RESEARCH DEMANDS In each of three broad European regions of North, West Central and East Central Europe: Deliver a structured study with the major wood supply chain stakeholders to establish the current stage of development and frame conditions for the workforce in forest operations. Use case studies of the 10 Core SMEs to establish the research demands of the forest operations sector. Collate regional information and analyse case study findings to produce SME research demands and specify parameters for research demand input to research plans for RTDs. 2 RESEARCH Research into how forestry SME s business management can best be developed to allow for the economic effects of ergonomic improvements and investment. Research into the most effective learning styles for forest operations businesses in the three European regions which will encourage the uptake of good ergonomic practice. Research into how the structural change in forestry and the socio economic frame conditions in rural areas affect the take up of ergonomic good practice in the three European regions. Research to develop a means for measuring the health and economic benefits of ergonomic investment across the 10 Core SMEs throughout the life of the Project. 3 KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER Customise the generic educative model developed through COMFOR which will encourage and enable forest operations SMEs to invest in ergonomic efficiency. Trial these models with the 10 Core SMEs to test whether the knowledge transfer and educative models are fit for purpose and that these are positively influencing the SME s working practices to improve health and performance. Disseminate the results of the trials and the best knowledge transfer and educative methods for implementing ergonomic working practices to a wide body of SMEs, vocational trainers, occupational health professionals, other stakeholders and the wider rural communities. 4 TRAINING Train local and national entrepreneurs associations, locally influential SME managers and other significant influencers identified in WP1 in the 10 countries to cascade the benefits of using COMFOR educative models to encourage the uptake of ergonomically efficient working practices and thus improve health and economic performance. Ensure the maximum exploitation of results by SMEs and micro businesses through active use of international expert networks, networks of training institutions and other multipliers. 3

4 Well being and better economic performance through ergonomically efficient ways of working The global yet local context of the forestry sector means that its characteristics vary in different parts of Europe; this calls for regional expertise in tackling the problem of occupational health and knowledge transfer. However, there are many similarities across Europe: SMEs use the same machines they are mainly micro-businesses, they are highly dependent on only one or two large customers, they are all having to adopt new standards regarding certification and environmental regulations. As a consequence, forest operations SMEs throughout Europe face, or will face, similar challenges, including occupational health problems associated with capital intensive modes of production. COMFOR takes the Collective Research, pan-european approach. This will use the unique competences of a range of research institutions, Industrial Associations and the participating SMEs themselves. In particular, COMFOR will add value by: undertaking mutual research to focus on the actual relevant topics by the RTD partners each having expertise in their national and European context but also the broader view of the international context; employing a common research methodology which will address the pan- European problems of occupational health associated with mechanisation, but providing tailored solutions to reflect regional differences; maximising the uptake of good ergonomic working practices by a large body of European forest operations SMEs; developing research and knowledge transfer capacities in the field of Work Science; contributing to mutual standards required by the European market for products and services. The benefits to the forest operations businesses will be improved well being and better economic performance by the adoption of ergonomically efficient ways of working. This will have the longer term effect of strengthening the forestry workforce and thus the sustainability of rural communities dependent on forestry. 4

5 Participants Contact person country Industrial Associations European Network of Forest Entrepreneurs ENFE Edgar Kastenholz DE Qualifizierungsfonds Forstwirtschaft e. V. QfF Jürgen Kumm DE Enterprises (SMEs) Waldwirtschaft Jacob OHG WJ Michael Sachse DE Sundgaubois SGB Francois Pasquier FR Harper Transport & Harvesting HHT Bryan Harper UK Czeslaw Dyduch CD Czeslaw Dybuch PL Il Forest IL Ion Ilioiu RO Wand Enterprises WE Christy Nolan IR Gebr. Zweverink GZ Gerard Zweverink NL Metsäurakointi Piirainen oy MP Asko Piirainen FI Dunbergs Skogsservice AB DS Jan Johansson SE Gorhin Ltd. GO Hinko Gechev BG Research Organisations Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences SLU Folke Bohlin SE Warsaw Agricultural University SGGW Piotr Paschalis PL University of Freiburg UoF Siegfried Lewark DE Forestry Commission Scotland FC Ian Murgatroyd UK Association Foret Cellulose AFOCEL Maryse Bigot FR Kuratorium für Waldarbeit und Forsttechnik KWF Joachim Morat DE Delo Organisationsberatung DELO Ewa Liden DE Hudson Consulting Ltd HCL Barrie Hudson UK Forest Research Institute in Warsaw IBL Krzysztof Jodlowski PL Coordinator contact details ENFE - European Network of Forest Entrepreneurs e.v. Secretariat General Rütteberg 10, D Sölden, Germany - secretariat@enfe.net Contact Person: Dr. Edgar Kastenholz ENFE Secretary General, edgar.kastenholz@enfe.net COMFOR has a duration of 3 years, from June 2006 to May