You are viewing a javascript disabled version of the site. Please enable Javascript for this site to function properly.
Go to headerGo to navigationGo to searchGo to contentsGo to footer
In content section. Select this link to jump to navigation

Reducing whole-body vibration through field vibration tested heavy equipment seat retrofitting

Issue title: Human Vibration

Guest editors: Michele Oliver and Tammy Eger

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Oliver, Michelea; * | Hope, Patriciaa | Conrad, Leannea | Jack, Robert J.b | Dickey, James P.c | Eger, Tammyb

Affiliations: [a] School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada | [b] Center for Research in Occupational Safety and Health, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada | [c] University of Western Ontario, London Ontario, Canada

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Michele Oliver, School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1. Tel.: +1 519 824 4120 x52117; E-mail:[email protected]

Keywords: Whole-body vibration, operator reported comfort, seat selection, ISO 2631-1(1997)

DOI: 10.3233/OER-160239

Journal: Occupational Ergonomics, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 15-22, 2016

Published: 29 June 2016
Get PDF open access

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Heavy mobile equipment operation exposes operators to whole-body vibration (WBV) through the seat. The decision of which seat to retrofit a machine with is usually done statically.

OBJECTIVE:

To report on the third phase of a three phase project designed to intelligently retrofit seats in heavy mobile machines with the purpose of reducing machine operator WBV exposure.

METHODS:

Three slag pot haulers were retrofitted with a 6801 Isringhausen seat in which the seat pan cushion was retrofitted with SkydexTM seating material. Vibration dose values (weighted for health), vibration total values (weighted for comfort) and Seat Effective Amplitude Transmissibility were determined from field measurements.

RESULTS:

WBV was reduced from the first field study to below the upper boundary of the ISO 2631-1 (1997) health guidance caution zone and comfort weighted vibration total values were reduced to the second lowest discomfort rating.

CONCLUSIONS:

Steel making and other similar industries have been provided with information to more efficiently retrofit existing machines.

References

[1] 

Cation S, , Jack R, , Oliver M, , Dickey J, , Lee-Shee NK. Six degree of freedom whole-body vibration during forestry skidder operations. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. (2008) ; 38: : 739-757.

[2] 

Griffin MJ. Handbook of Human Vibration. New York: Academic Press; (1990) .

[3] 

ISO 2631-1. Mechanical vibration and shock - Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration - Part 1: General requirements. Geneva Switzerland: International Standards Organization; (1997) .

[4] 

Mansfield NJ. Human response to vibration. Boca Raton: CRC Press; (2005) .

[5] 

Bernard BP, ed. Musculoskeletal disorders and workplace factors: a critical review of epidemiologic evidence for work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the neck, upper extremity, and low back. Publication No. 97BB141, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio; (1997) .

[6] 

Bovenzi M, , Hulshof CT. An updated review of epidemiologic studies on the relationship between exposure to whole-body vibration and low back pain. J. Sound Vib. (1998) ; 215: : 595-611.

[7] 

Lings S, , Leboeuf-Yde C. Whole-body vibration and low back pain: a systematic, critical review of the epidemiological literature 1992-1999. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. (2000) ; 73: : 290-297.

[8] 

Hagen KB, , Magnus P, , Vetlesen K. Neck/shoulder and low-back disorders in the forestry industry: relationship to work tasks and perceived psychosocial job stress. Ergonomics. (1998) ; 41: : 1510-1518.

[9] 

Rehn B, , Bergdhal I, , Ahlgren C, , From C, , Jarvholm B. Musculoskeletal symptoms among drivers of all-terrain vehicles. J. Sound Vib. (2002) ; 253: : 21-29.

[10] 

Sherwin L, , Owende P, , Kanali C, , Lyons J, , Ward S. Influence of tyre inflation pressure on whole-body vibrations transmitted to the operator in a cut-to-length timber harvester. Applied Ergonomics. (2004) ; 35: : 253-261.

[11] 

Donati P. Survey of technical preventative measures to reduce whole-body vibration effects when designing mobile machinery. J. Sound Vib. (2002) ; 253: (10): 169.

[12] 

Malchaire J, , Piette A, , Mullier I. Vibration exposure on fork-lift trucks. Annals of Occupational Hygiene. (1996) ; 40: : 79-91.

[13] 

Rehn B, , Lundstrom R, , Nilsson L, , Liljelind I, , Jarvholm B. Variation in exposure to whole-body vibration for operators of forwarder vehicles - aspects on measurement strategies and prevention. Journal of Industrial Ergonomics. (2005) ; 35: : 831-842.

[14] 

Piette A, , Malchaire J. Technical characteristics of overhead cranes influencing the vibration exposure of the operators. Applied Ergonomics. (1992) ; 23: : 121-127.

[15] 

Conrad L, , Oliver M, , Jack J, , Eger T, , Dickey J. Quantification of 6-degree-of-freedom chassis whole-body vibration in mobile heavy vehicles used in the steel making industry. Journal of Low Frequency Noise, Vibration and Active Control. (2012) ; 31: (2): 85-104.

[16] 

Harnish C, , Eger T, , Oliver M, , Dickey J. Predicting health risks associated with whole-body vibration and repeated shock exposure in steel manufacturing vehicle operators. Occupational Ergonomics. (2012) ; 10: (3): 125-137.

[17] 

Conrad L, , Oliver M, , Jack J, , Eger T, , Dickey J. Selecting seats for steel industry mobile machines based on Seat Effective Amplitude Transmissibility and comfort. Work. (2014) ; 47: : 123-136.

[18] 

Dickey JP, , Oliver ML, , Boileau PE, , Trick LM, , Edwards AM. Multi-axis sinusoidal whole-body vibrations: part II-relationship between vibration total value and discomfort varies between vibration axes. Journal of Low Frequency Noise, Vibration and Active Control. (2007) ; 26: (3): 477-491.

Show more