ERGONOMIC

VIBRATION

WHOS AT RISK?
ANYONE WHO ABSORBS MACHINE
VIBRATION THROUGH THEIR HANDS
AND ARMS WHILE WORKING A FASTMOVING HAND TOOL - OR THROUGH THE BUTTOCKS AND THE
SOLES OF THE FEET WHILE RIDING IN
OR STANDING NEAR VIBRATING, HEAVY
MACHINERY--

HOW MANY EXPOSED?

APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION
EXPOSED
50 -- 60 % OF WORKER POPULATION
HAVE SYMPTOMS

TYPES?
WHOLE BODY VIBRATION
SEGMENTAL VIBRATION

DEFINITION?
A CYCLE OF SPECIFIC ACTIVITY BACKFORTH, UP AND DOWN RESULTING FROM
REVERSAL OF ENERGY
FREQUENCIES OF 100 HZ OR HIGHER
ARE ABSORBED BY THE HANDS AND
WRISTS
FREQUENCIES UNDER 100 HZ ARE
ABSORBED BY THE UPPER LIMB JOINTS

RESPONSE DEPENDS ON:

FREQUENCY OF VIBRATION
AMPLITUDE OF VIBRATION
TIME HISTORY OF VIBRATION EXPOSURE
DIRECTION OF VIBRATION
POINT OF APPLICATION OF VIBRATION
HOW MUCH VIBRATION IS TRANSMITTED
AFFECT OF CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
BODY SIZE (HEIGHT AND WEIGHT)
BODY POSTURE/ BODY TENSION

CONTROL
STRATEGIES:
ENGINEERING AND WORK PRACTICES
ANTI-VIBRATION CLOTHING,
EQUIPMENT, AND TRAINING
GOALS:
REDUCE THE INTENSITY
REDUCE THE EXPOSURE DURATION
IDENTIFY THE EARLY SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

ENGINEERING CONTROLS:
REDUCTION AT SOURCE
REDUCTION OF TRANSMISSION
PROCESS MODIFICATION

REDUCTION AT SOURCE
REDUCE SPEED OF TOOL
REDUCE WEIGHT AND POWER NEEDED
TO DRIVE THE TOOL
CHANGE TYPE OF TOOL
E.G. RECIPROCATING ENGINE TO ROTARY OR
ELECTRIC MOTOR

TOOL MAINTENANCE
MOUNT EQUIPMENT ON SPRINGS OR
COMPRESSION PADS
USE MATERIALS THAT GENERATE LESS
VIBRATION

WORK MODIFICATION
APPROACHES
LIMIT NUMBERS OF HOURS
REDUCE NUMBER OF DAYS PER WEEK
ROTATE BETWEEN VIBRATING AND
NON-VIBRATING TOOL TASKS
SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE BREAKS

WORK PRACTICES

LENGTH OF WORK DAY

JOB ROTATION
SELECT LOW VIBRATION TOOLS
DESIGN WORK TASK AND WORKPLACE
ERGONOMICALLY
REDUCE GRIP FORCE APPLIED
REDUCE FORCE APPLIED
RESTRICT USE OF PIECE WORK AND
INCENTIVE PAY
ERGONOMIC WORK POSTURES

ADMINISTRATIVE
CONTROLS
PPE
REDUCE TRANSMISSION OF VIBRATING ENERGY TO
THE HAND
PROTECT AGAINST EXPOSURE TO COLD AND
TRAUMA
TRAINING

SOURCE OF VIBRATION
ADVERSE HEALTH AND SAFETY EFFECTS
EARLY SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
USE AND AVAILABILITY OF VIBRATION PROTECTIVE
CLOTHING
ANTI-VIBRATION DEVICES
VALUE OF GOOD TOOL MAINTENANCE
WORK PRACTICE PROCEDURES

Definitions
Sound:
Composed of Frequency and Intensity

Frequency or pitch:
Hertz (Hz)

Intensity or loudness:
Decibels (dBA)

A doubling of the level of sound is

perceived as less than double
Do not trust your ears

Two Types of Hearing Loss

Conductive
Sensory

Conductive Hearing Loss

Caused by damage to or a malfunction
of the outer and middle ear
Some causes
excessive ear wax
fluid in the ear
a torn eardrum
Colds

Usually hearing is restored once the

cause is diagnosed and treated

Types of Hearing Protection

Devices
Foam earplugs
Earmuffs
Noise Reduction
Rating ( NRR )
Plugs + Muffs
Take the higher
NRR and add 5 dB
to it

 It doesnt matter how many resources we have

If we dont know how to use them, they will
never be enough
We may have too many lighting fixtures but if
they are not properly positioned we will still
have an issue

IMPROPER UTILIZATION OF
RESOURCES
HIGH BEAM LIGHTS result in glare
This will happen in over illumination .