Annals of Occupational Hygiene Advance Access originally published online on December 9, 2004
Annals of Occupational Hygiene 2005 49(3):267-275; doi:10.1093/annhyg/meh077
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© 2004 British Occupational Hygiene Society Published by Oxford University Press;
Original Article |
Whole-Body Vibration Exposure and Non-neutral Neck Postures During Occupational Use of All-terrain Vehicles
1 Occupational Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, SE-901 87 Umeå, Sweden; 2 Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, SE-851 86 Sundsvall, Sweden; 3 University Hospital, Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +46 70 3543045; fax: +46 90 7869110; e-mail: borje.rehn{at}physiother.umu.se
ABSTRACT
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to characterize whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure from various all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) like snowgroomers, snowmobiles and forwarders, and to investigate how frequently the drivers' cervical spine is positioned in a non-neutral rotational position during operation.
Methods: Field measurements of WBV were measured according to the international standard ISO 2631-1 in 19 ATVs. Simultaneous recordings of frequency and duration of rotational neck movements exceeding 15° were achieved through an observational method, PEOflex®.
Results: The sum of the vectors of frequency-weighted r.m.s. acceleration varied between 0.5 and 3.5 m s–2, which meant that for most vehicles they exceeded the action value stated by the European Union (
). In general, snowmobiles achieved the highest vibration total value. The dominant vibration direction for the snowmobile was the x-axis but the z-axis also had relatively high vibration dose values and maximal transient vibration values. The z-axis was the dominant vibration direction for the snowgroomer and the y-axis for the forwarder. Frequency and duration of non-neutral rotational neck postures were relatively low for all driver categories.
Conclusions: Vibration magnitudes in ATVs are considerably high than the EU's action value and the health guidance caution zones in ISO 2631-1. The dominant vibration direction varies depending on the machine type. Duration and frequency of non-neutral rotational positions do not seem to constitute single ergonomic risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck among professional drivers of ATVs. However, synergistic effects with other factors are conceivable.
Keywords: neck posture • shock • vehicle • whole-body vibration