Journal of Vibration Engineering & Technologies

https://doi.org/10.1007/s42417-022-00480-5

ORIGINAL PAPER

Assessment of Hand‑Arm Vibration in Semi‑Mechanized Gardening

Activities
Roldão Carlos Andrade Lima1 · Qüinny Soares Rocha1 · Ana Carolina Cazani2 ·
João Eduardo Guarnetti dos Santos2 · Danilo Simões1

Received: 11 September 2021 / Revised: 9 March 2022 / Accepted: 18 March 2022

© Krishtel eMaging Solutions Private Limited 2022

Abstract
Purpose The objective was to evaluate whether hand-arm vibration acting under workers who perform semi-mechanized
activities in the gardening area is in compliance with the precautionary zones.
Methods The collection of vibration data was based on the methodology recommended by the International Organization
for Standardization, using a vibration analyzer coupled to a triaxial accelerometer with Integrated Circuit Piezoelectric.
Results When analyzing the values of hand-arm vibration, it was verified that the activities with chainsaw and brush cut-
ter presented acceleration values higher than the exposure limits established by the American Conference of Government
Industrial Hygienists. In comparison with the criteria of the International Organization for Standardization—ISO 5349-1,
these activities present results of a precautionary zone, indicating the susceptibility to the appearance of white fingers syn-
drome in at least 3.5 years.
Conclusion The values obtained indicate that occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration in semi-mechanized activities
in the gardening area can cause health risks for workers, especially with regard to chainsaw and brush-cutter composite
machines. The results show the need for actions that can minimize transmission in activities with a level above the guidelines.

Keywords Ergonomics · Occupational safety · Forest operations · Physical risks

Introduction the causes of occupational diseases. Thus, work activities are

There are a number of reasons for conducting a safety analy-
sis, which can concern either an existing workplace or a
design situation [1]. Therefore, occupational safety profes-
sionals, considered a laborious profession, are responsible
for implementing periodic analyzes in the workplace, which
include routine inspections, training and safety programs,
extremely important components that contribute substan-
tially to the prevention of safety and workers' health.
The analyzes on occupational health and safety seek to
harmonize the work system with the human being, as by
analyzing the activities of workers, such as posture, move-
ments and physical demands, it becomes possible to identify
* Danilo Simões
danilo.simoes@unesp.br
1
School of Agriculture, São Paulo State University (Unesp),
Botucatu, Brazil
2
School of Engineering, São Paulo State University (Unesp),
Bauru, Brazil
adapted to the worker, making them comfortable and safe,
increasing the efficiency and productivity of activities, based
on rules and regulations [2–4].
Among the work activities, semi-mechanized activities
stand out, characterized by the operation and handling of
composite machines driven by internal combustion engines
[5]. These machines can be chainsaw, brush-cutter, hedge
trimmer, pole-mounted powered pruner, hand-held blower,
among others, which are operated outdoors. These are cate-
gorized as high risk to the safety and health of workers, both
because of the energy expenditure resulting from handling
the machine and because of exposure to physical risks, such
as occupational vibration [6–9].
Vibration is defined as an involuntary movement around a
fixed point, being an intrinsic factor in the development and
use of machines, due to the friction of moving parts [10, 11].
Relating to the human body, this movement can be regular,
with repetitions, or irregular, when it does not follow any
given pattern [12–14].

13
Vol.:(0123456789)

Vibration classified as hand-arm vibration (HAV) is an
oscillatory movement of mechanical origin applied directly
to the hand-arm system, usually through the hands or fingers.
The origin occurs through cables of composite machines
driven by internal combustion engines or work pieces that
vibrate or impact the worker [15]. Continued exposure to
vibration can result in occupational diseases that affect blood
vessels, nerves, bones, joints, muscles or tissues in the hands
and arms [16–26].
The exposure time influences the intensity of the effects,
consequently the damage increases with prolonged expo-
sure [27–31]. Therefore, it is recommended, for purposes
of prevention of occupational diseases caused by vibration,
to adopt the parameters recommended by the International
Organization for Standardization, substantial guidelines
for the assessment of occupational exposure to vibration
[32–34].
Despite this, specific legislation for each country is com-
mon, which establish norms for the characterization of work-
ing conditions. In Brazil, the instrumentation and technical
procedures for measuring the vibration agent are supported
by the occupational hygiene standards of the Jorge Duprat
Figueiredo Foundation, of Occupational Safety and Medi-
cine [35, 36]. Regarding the tolerance limits for exposure
to occupational vibration, which characterize and classify
unhealthy conditions, the regulatory standards of the Federal
Government of Brazil are supported [37].
In this context, composite machines, driven by internal
combustion engines, can be considered important sources
of translational vibration, exposing workers to hand-arm
vibration. That said, the objective was to assess whether the
occupational vibration acting under workers who perform
semi-mechanized activities in the gardening area is in com-
pliance with the precautionary zones.
Material and Methods
The study was carried out in the central-west region of the
state of São Paulo, Brazil. Semi-mechanized work activities
performed in the gardening area, carried out using compos-
ite machines driven by internal combustion engines, were
evaluated (Table 1). During data collection, the average tem-
perature was 21.2 °C and the wind speed was 3.4 km ­h−1
[38].
The operations performed by these machines consist of
pruning and cleaning urban areas with the presence of trees,
such as public squares, central beds of streets and public
parks. The chainsaw consists of a saw powered by a motor,
in which the operating cycle consists of cutting branches
with a diameter greater than 15 cm and in some cases felling
trees. A brush-cutter is a machine that cuts grass or under-
growth using a cutting blade [39–41].
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Journal of Vibration Engineering & Technologies
The hedge trimmer is a gardening machine used to trim
hedges or solitary bushes. The pole-mounted powered
pruner is a motorized machine that has a saber at the end of
an extension rod, allowing the operator to cut branches up
to 6 m high. The hand-held blower is a machine that works
by pushing air out of a nozzle to move debris such as leaves
and grass clippings [42–45].
A male worker was considered, right-handed, with a
height of 182 cm and a body mass of 83 kg, working in a
daily workday of 8 h and able to operate all the machines
evaluated. However, the time required for feeding and def-
ecation was disregarded. Thus, an exposure time of six hours
was effectively considered for each machine, starting at 8
am and ending at 4 pm, with a 2-h break at the discretion
of the worker.
Due to the peculiarities of the work activities, the use of
personal protective equipment (PPE) was observed, such as
ear protectors, goggles, apron, leggings, hat, latex gloves,
protective boots, long-sleeved shirt and belt for work in
height.
Data collection considered three measurement points of
the worker's right hand, as this is the point of greatest con-
tact with the machine, as recommended by the International
Organization for Standardization—ISO 5349-1 [32], where
the x axis represents the palm of the hand, the y axis rep-
resents the knuckles and the z axis is associated with the
parallel of the bones of the forearm.
The instrument for measuring and acquiring data was
based on the recommendations of the International Organi-
zation for Standardization—ISO 8041-1 [46], which deter-
mines the standards of measuring instruments designed to
measure vibration values, with the purpose of evaluating
human response. The weighting curve Wh was weighted,
and the multiplication factor k = 1, for the x, y and z axes.
A vibration analyzer model HVM200 coupled to a triaxial
accelerometer with Integrated Circuit Piezoelectric (ICP),
model SEN041F (SN P233534) was used. The instrument
has as nominal sensitivity: x axis = 1.048 mV m ­s−2; y
axis = 1.057 mV m ­s−2; z axis = 1.062 mV m ­s−2.
The evaluations were carried out without interference on
work activities, for 20 min, totaling 1200 records in each
test, in this way the time was determined considering the
work cycle, working hours and the variation of the values
measured in real time, to represent a significant sample of
the operator’s exposure [47].
The total value of vibration was estimated from the fre-
quency-weighted root mean square acceleration, consider-
ing the vibration in the orthogonal x, y, and z axes (Eq. 1)
[32], attributing the severity criteria for the adequacy of the
observed values of hand-arm vibration.
√
ahv = a2hWX + a2hWY + a2hWZ (1)
Journal of Vibration Engineering & Technologies

Table 1  Specifications of Machine Denomination Brand Model Mass (kg)

composite machines driven by
internal combustion engines Chainsaw Stihl MS 170 3.9

Brush-cutter Stihl FS 220 7.7

Hedge trimmer Stihl HS 81 R 5.7

Pole-mounted powered pruner Stihl HT 75 6.6

Hand-held blower Stihl BG 86 4.5

ahv is the frequency-weighted root-mean-square accelera- Standardization—ISO 5349-1 [32], in which it was consid-
tion (m ­s−2); a2hWX it is the regular acceleration in frequency ered that the variable A(8), when crossing the descending line
for the palm of the hand (m ­s−2); a2hWY it is the regular accel- of the graph, resulted in the vibration exposure for predicted
eration in frequency for the knuckles (m ­s−2); a2hWZ it is the 10% prevalence of vibration induced white finger in a group
regular acceleration in frequency parallel to the bones of the of exposed persons.
forearm (m ­s−2). The experimental design was conducted in a completely
To estimate the daily occupational exposure to HAV, the randomized manner (CRD). Thus, the composite machines
time was extrapolated to the daily 8-h journey (Eq. 2) [32]. were considered as treatments and the coordinate axes were
√ the repetitions.
A(8) = ahv
T
(2) Data were submitted to the Shapiro–Wilk test (α = 5%)
T0 to verify the assumption of normality and the Bartlett test
(α = 5%) to analyze the homogeneity of variances. The F test
A(8) is the total value of the energy equivalent vibration
was applied through Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and, in
of 8 h (m ­s−2); ahv is the frequency-weighted root-mean-
cases where there was a significant difference, the Tukey test
square acceleration (m ­s−2); T is the duration of the exposure
(p < 0.05) was applied to compare the means. For statistical
(s); T0 it is the reference duration of 8 h (28,800 s).
analysis, the R Development software was used [49].
Variable A(8) was analyzed based on the Threshold Limit
Values (TLVs) of the American Conference of Government
Industrial Hygienists [48], in which the exposure limit value
for HAV is 5 m ­s−2. The characterization of health precaution
limit zones was based on the International Organization for

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 Journal of Vibration Engineering & Technologies

Results and Discussion
When evaluating the accelerations in the xy and z axes
(Table 2), it was found that the chainsaw is the composite
machine that presents the highest value of daily exposure
to vibration, followed by a brush-cutter and hedge trimmer.
Despite the outstanding exposure intensity values
obtained in the operations, only the chainsaw and brush-
cutter work activity presented values above the exposure
limit of A(8) > 5 m ­s−2. Prolonged exposure to vibration,
above the exposure limit, resulting from the handling of
composite machines, can result in occupational diseases for
the worker, affecting blood circulation and causing loss of
sensation in the hands [50, 51].
The standard operation of the chainsaw for gardening
activity consists of the cut made with the upper end of the
saber, characteristic in delimbing trees [52, 53]. The higher
levels of vibration during the use of a chainsaw are explained
by the delimbing with the upper end of the saber, which
generates intensified vibration due to the friction between
the chain and the cut wood, translating greater oscillations
during work [54, 55].
When analyzing the brush-cutter vibration, the vibration
level was 0.42 m ­s−2 above the established one, which can
be explained by terrain irregularities and stony level. These
operating conditions restrict the correct use of the machine,
causing the machine's cutting head to contact the ground
during operation, resulting in increased vibration transmitted
to the worker's hands and arms [56–59].
The hedge trimmer and the pole-mounted powered pruner
showed results below the exposure limit, but above the
action level of A(8) > 2.5 m ­s−2. This implies the adoption
of preventive actions to minimize the risk of occupational
exposure causing damage to the worker's health, prevent-
ing the daily exposure limit from being reached. These
actions consist of 10-min breaks every hour worked, keep
the machines in good working order, replace vibration-
absorbing parts and components in poor condition and use
individual anti-vibration protection equipment [60–65].
The hand-held blower was the only machine evaluated
with vibration values below the exposure limit and action
level. This result can be explained by the specificity of the
operation, which does not configure contact with the vegeta-
tion, that is, external friction is minimized and, therefore,
there is a reduction in vibration levels [66–68].
The Raynaud's phenomenon, also called white fingers
syndrome, is the main occupational disease resulting from
excessive exposure to HAV [69–73]. When evaluating the
precautionary zones (Fig. 1), the total value of the vibration
of energy equivalent to 8 h on the abscissa axis, results in
an estimate in years ( Dy ) for the appearance of white fingers
syndrome.
The high acceleration value indicates that in 3.5 years the
worker will be susceptible to the appearance of occupational
symptoms of white fingers syndrome. The acceleration of
the brush-cutter operation indicates that in 5.3 years the
worker may present symptoms of this syndrome. The other
work activities in the gardening area presented estimates
above 6 years, with emphasis on the hand-held blower, indi-
cating that the worker who handles this machine may have
this syndrome in 15 years of operation.
The precautionary zone graph considers that accelera-
tion below 5 m ­s−2 results in long-term effects on workers'
health, with a focus on white fingers syndrome. Acceleration
values below 2 m ­s−2 are disregarded, as the effect on work-
ers' health is minimally significant, being below the action
level [74–76].
The average HAV emitted by the chainsaw and brush-cut-
ter operation did not differ (p < 0.05), confirming that they
are the most harmful machines to workers' health. However,
the average brush-cutter vibration was statistically equal
among the other machines evaluated (Table 3).

Conclusion
Table 2  Classification of hand-arm vibration exposure in semi-mech-
anized gardening work activities The chainsaw and brush-cutter work activities, among the
Activities Axes ahW ahv(m ­s−2) A(8)(m ­s−2) semi-mechanized gardening operations evaluated, have a
daily exposure above the limit established by the Ameri-
Chainsaw xy 8.78 9.49 8.22
can Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists, being
z 6.40
harmful to workers during the daily workday.
Brush-cutter xy 5.75 6.25 5.42
The values obtained for the chainsaw and brush-cutter
z 4.34
activities are located in a precautionary zone defined by
Hedge trimmer xy 5.58 5.14 4.45
the International Organization for Standardization, which
z 3.35
indicate the susceptibility of emergence of the occupational
Pole-mounted powered pruner xy 4.37 4.43 3.84
disease of white finger syndrome in 3.5 and 5.3 years,
z 2.85
respectively.
Hand-held blower xy 2.46 2.44 2.11
The execution of these activities, without harming the
z 1.64
health of workers, requires the adoption of preventive

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Journal of Vibration Engineering & Technologies

Fig. 1  Precautionary zone of

hand-arm vibration for the
appearance of white fingers
syndrome in semi-mechanized
gardening activities

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