Hand-Arm Vibration Controls for Jackleg Rock Drills: A Pilot Study Assessing Ergonomic Hazards

Details

• Personal Author:
  Autenrieth D ; Gilkey D ; Kremer C ; Rosenthal S ; Stack T
• Description:
  Jackleg drill operators are exposed to harmful levels of hand-arm vibration (HAV). Anti-vibration handles and gloves provide modest reductions in HAV exposures and forearm muscle exertion from the use of anti-vibration handles and gloves by jackleg drill operators. The goal of this pilot study was to investigate changes in HAV with the use of anti-vibration gloves and handles compared to forearm muscle exertion experienced by operators and measured with surface electromyography (EMG). Five subjects operated the drill under four different cases: no anti-vibration controls, anti-vibration gloves only, anti-vibration handle only, and simultaneous anti-vibration handle and glove use. Muscle exertion was expressed as a per cent of maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) and was compared using Welch's ANOVA with Games-Howell post hoc comparisons. The case with both anti-vibration controls in use simultaneously (largest grip diameter) was associated with a mean %MVC of 36.13% during operation for all forearm muscles combined, which was significantly higher than that of the other cases (p<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in mean HAV exposures. The anti-vibration handle with anti-vibration glove case only increased the maximum allowable exposure time by 8 min as compared to the control case without any anti-vibration controls. These results suggest that the modest HAV exposure reductions from the use of nti-vibration handles and gloves may pale in comparison to the increased muscle exertion resulting from their use, and this trade-of among jackleg drill operators is a potential concern that warrants further investigation. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Exposure Ergonomics Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Vibration
• Keywords:
  Antivibration Author Keywords: Hand-arm Vibration Electromyography Exposure Levels Gloves Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome Hand Tools HAVS Jackleg Drill Mining Ergonomics MSD Muscular Disorders Musculoskeletal System Disorders Risk Factors Rock Drillers Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorder

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• ISSN:
  2524-3462
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Montana ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  38
• Issue:
  5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20063519
• Citation:
  Min Metall Explor 2021 Oct; 38(5):1933-1941
• Contact Point Address:
  David Gilkey, Department of Safety, Health and Industrial Hygiene, Montana Technological University, 1300 West Park St., Butte, MT 59701
• Email:
  dgilkey@mtech.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2022
• Performing Organization:
  Montana Technological University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:9de15ae1ff854ff867616d4ec23b344b5a4ada476ea540798636cc8a49cadabbff8974c20a6cfce83be3a8dee24c621d8af8afbd242d276d7a13659d35a75c36
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/222109/cdc_222109_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.21 MB ]