Preventing Exposure to Whole-Body Vibration

Details

• Personal Author:
  Mayton, Alan G. ; Wible D
• Description:
  Negative health effects of exposure to whole-body vibration are prevalent in the industrial world today, particularly in mining where heavy earth-moving equipment and off-road vehicles are necessities. Heavy machinery produces whole-body vibration and mechanical shock exposure to equipment operators when operating on rough surfaces and under harsh conditions. This places a significant burden on the health and safety of exposed mine workers. BASICS OF VIBRATION: Whole-body vibration exposure commonly occurs when a person is in contact with a vibrating surface - for example, while sitting on a vibrating seat, standing on a vibrating floor or lying on a vibrating bed or mat. Seated people exposed to whole-body vibration are also often simultaneously exposed to local vibration of the head (i.e., from a headrest), the hands (i.e., from a steering wheel) and the feet (i.e., from the floor). Vibration may also enter the body from contact with the seat backrest. The primary characteristics of whole - body vibration are vibration frequency, magnitude, direction and duration. Vibration frequency is expressed as the reciprocal of the period in hertz (Hz). Magnitude is expressed as displacement, velocity or acceleration. In relation to the human body, direction is expressed in terms of vertical (head to foot), side to side (right to left) and back to chest. Duration is time interval of the exposure. Humans are not typically exposed to vibration as a static, periodic signal in the real world. Instead, exposures include many simultaneous waves of varying frequency, magnitude, direction and duration. Therefore, the effects of whole-body vibration on the body of a mine worker are complex and can be substantial. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Automobiles Environmental Exposure Mining Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Vibration
• Keywords:
  Drivers Equipment Operators Exposure Levels Health Effects Machinery Mine Workers Mining Equipment Mining Industry Motor Vehicles Risk Factors Vibration Effects Vibration Exposure Whole Body Vibration Workers

  More +
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0032-0293
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  72-76
• Volume:
  111
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20054257
• Citation:
  Pit Quarry Jan 2019 Jan; 111(7):72-76
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Pit & Quarry
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:8a79ba94ddae06907e52f03e0869c989170d8b2639a4e528c1d163a8ae36abed874105a795997319847ffed3b1a771943f8c59750460bec3fdda2656f4232913
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227796/cdc_227796_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.04 MB ]