What is Vibration?
Quick repetitive movement
What is the types of Vibration?
Whole Body Vibration (WBH)
Hand Arm Vibration (HAV).
What are the maximum recommended vibration levels?
HAV - amplitude of one m/s2 over a four hour period;
Very low frequency vibration - amplitude of 0.25 m/s2 over an eight hour period;
WBV - amplitude of 0.63 m/s2 over an eight hour period.
Vibration Measuring Instruments = Vibrometers Ref:Mitutoyo
Piezoelectric
Electrokinetic
Non contact
Who gets ill-health from Whole Body Vibration (WBH)?
Operators, drivers and passengers of machines and vehicles
Rough road, Rough surface and resistance forces
Vehicle activity
Engine vibration
What are the factors that increase ill-health from WBH?
road construction/ maintenance
vehicle type/design
vehicle age/condition
maintenance of vehicle suspension systems
seat design, suspension and maintenance
cab layout, design and orientation
task design and work organisation
vehicle speed, driver skills and awareness
What is Hand Arm Vibration (HAV)?
Hand-arm vibration is vibration transmitted to the hand and arm during the
operation of hand-held power tools and hand-guided equipment, or holding
materials being processed by machines.
Who gets ill-health from Hand Arm Vibration (HAV)?
Workers who regularly use tools such as jackhammers, chainsaws, grinders, drills,
riveters and impact wrenches.
What are the factors that increase ill-health from HAV?
Tool characteristics:
Higher magnitude of vibration
Poor tool maintenance
Minimal handle insulation
Increased weight of tool
Increased surface area of hand in contact with tool
Harder material being contacted
Work organisation:
Long exposure during each work shift and years of exposure
lower duration and frequency of rest periods
lower temperature of work environment
Individual's characteristics:
Gripping the handle more tightly than needed
Awkward postures and working overhead
Low operator skill ; poor technique
Individual lifestyle factors (eg. smoking)
Disease or prior injury to fingers, hands or wrists
What tools cause HAV?
chainsaws
impact wrenches power hammers & chisels
concrete breakers
jigsaws powered lawn mowers
road breakers
needle scalers powered sanders
cut-off saws
pedestal grinders scabblers
hammer drills
polishers strimmers/brush cutters
hand-held grinders
WHOLE BODY VIBRATION:
Lower back pain (damage to vertebrae and discs, ligaments loosened)
Motion sickness
Bone damage
Varicose veins/heart conditions (variation in blood pressure from vibration);
Stomach and digestive conditions;
respiratory, endocrine and metabolic changes;
impairment of vision, balance or both;
reproductive organ damage.
HAND-ARM VIBRATION:
White finger (also known as "dead finger" ) - damage to hands causing
whiteness and pain in the fingers;
Carpel tunnel syndrome (and other symptoms similar to occupational overuse
syndrome);
Sensory nerve damage;
Muscle and joint damage in the hands and arms (eg 'tennis elbow')
These can be permanently disabling after a few years of uncontrolled exposure.
Damage to the body from exposure to vibration depends on:
Duration of exposure
Frequency
Amplitude
Individual variation
Risk = 25%, young, Machine, Road, 50% HBV, 20% both, 50% of work time, No edn
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
Raynauds Phenomenon = attacks of whitening (blanching) of one or more
fingers when exposed to cold
tingling and loss of sensation in the fingers
loss of light touch
pain and cold sensations between periodic white finger attacks
loss of grip strength
bone cysts in fingers and wrists
(a) Vascular assessment
Stage Grade Description
0 (none) No attacks
1 Mild Occasional attacks affecting only the tips of one or more fingers
Occasional attacks affecting finger tips and middle of the finger
2 Moderate (distal and middle phalanges), and also rarely affects the parts of
the finger close to the palm (proximal phalanges)
3 Severe Frequent attacks affecting all parts of most fingers (all phalanges)
Very
4 Same symptoms as in stage 3 with skin changes in the finger tips.
Severe
(b) Sensorineural assessment
Stage Symptoms
OSN Exposed to vibration but no symptoms
1SN Intermittent numbness, with or without tingling
2SN Intermittent or persistent numbness, reduced sensory perception
Intermittent or persistent numbness, reduced tactile discrimination and/or
3SN
manipulative dexterity
Raynauds Phenomenon = dental, piano, typist
Primary
Holding too tight
Cold
Tobacco
Stress
Liquid
Treatment = warm water
How to Prevent and Control illness due to vibrations?
Aim = Modify the workplace
Controlling the hazard at source
Last Option = Modify, screen, exclude workers from the workplace.
Vibration Survey
Mapping Exercise
Eliminate or substitute
Engineering
Administrative
Personal Protection Equipment
Elimination: Purchasing of non-vibrating products and tools
Substitution: Non pneumatic power tools,
Cushioning or spring grips or rubber shock absorbers to reduce kick-back
Vibration absorbing and ergonomically designed seats
Proper postural support & comfort
Improvement of suspension of cabs and existing seats in vehicles
Engineering: Mounting machine on a heavy base,
Using insulating mountings,
Sinking machine into a pit
Use of vibration dampeners
Proper and regular maintenance of all vehicles, machinery and tools
Administrative: Job and/or equipment rotation
Regular rest breaks
PPE: Provision of gloves
Health Education
Regular environmental monitoring to check effectiveness of control methods
Hand Arm Vibration : A step by step guide to evaluate & control risk : ErgoPlus
