A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Truck Seat Intervention: Part 1 – Assessment of Whole Body Vibration Exposures

Details

• Personal Author:
  Dennerlein, Jack T. ; Ibbotson J ; Johnson PW ; Kim JH ; Zigman M
• Description:
  Full-time vehicle and heavy equipment operators often have a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders, especially low back pain (LBP). In occupations requiring vehicles or heavy equipment operation, exposure to whole body vibration (WBV) has been consistently associated with LBP. LBP is the most common cause of work-related disability and continues to be the leading cause of morbidity and lost productivity in the US workforce. Using a parallel randomized controlled trial design, over a 12-month period, this study evaluated two different seating interventions designed to reduce WBV exposures. Forty professional truck drivers were initially recruited and randomly assigned to one of two groups: (i) a passive suspension/control group-20 drivers who received a new, industry-standard air-suspension seat, and (ii) an intervention group-20 drivers who received an active-suspension seat, which has been shown to reduce vertical WBV exposures by up to 50% compared to passive seats. WBV exposures from the truck seat and floor were collected during driver's full shifts (6-18 h) before (pre-intervention) and after the intervention (0, 3, 6, and 12 months post-intervention) per International Standards Organization (ISO) 2631-1 and 2631-5 WBV standards. After subject dropout and turnover, 16 truck drivers remained in each group. The pre-intervention WBV data showed that there were no differences in the daily equivalent time-weighted average WBV exposures [A(8)], vibration dose values [VDV(8)], and static spinal compression doses [Sed(8)] between the two groups (P's > 0.36). After the new seats were installed, the A(8) values showed that the active suspension/intervention group experienced much greater reduction in the vertical (z) axis [approximately 50%; P = <0.0001; Cohen's d effect size (95% CI) = 1.80 (1.12, 2.48)] exposures when compared to in the passive suspension/control group [approximately 20%; P = 0.23; 0.33 (-0.36, 1.02)]. The post-intervention z-axis VDV(8) and Sed(8) WBV exposure measures were not different between the two seat groups [VDV(8), P = 0.33; 0.35 (-0.32, 1.03); Sed(8), P = 0.61; 0.08 (-0.59, 0.76)]. These study findings indicate that, relative to the current industry-standard, passive air-suspension seats which are ubiquitous in all semi-trucks today, the active suspension seat dramatically reduced average continuous [A(8)] WBV exposures but not periodic, cumulative impulsive exposures [VDV(8) and Sed(8)]. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Automobiles Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety Vibration
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Long-haul Truck Drivers Drivers Equipment Operators Intervention Effectiveness Low Back Pain MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Seat Suspension Static Compressive Dose Truck Drivers Vibration Dose Value Whole Body Vibration Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders

  More +
• ISSN:
  2398-7308
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; Oregon ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  62
• Issue:
  8
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055242
• Citation:
  Ann Work Expo Health 2018 Oct; 62(8):990-999
• Contact Point Address:
  Jeong Ho Kim, Environmental and Occupational Health Program, School of Biological and Population Health Sciences, Oregon State University, 20B Milam Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
• Email:
  jay.kim@oregonstate.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of Work Exposures and Health
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2e72eb3179828602770c99693594b3aed23cd7552e519f47f3873b8961c3eaf348670aaa20c20f1e22aee56b3e8473b49e557517d48c93b2af79ccb20ee55bad
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/217588/cdc_217588_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 613.73 KB ]