Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate health risks to operators of large and small load-haul-dump (LHD) vehicles exposed to whole-body vibration (WBV), based on criteria established in ISO 2631-1, ISO 2631-5, and EU Directive 2002/44 EC. Studies simultaneously evaluating health risks based on all three standards are limited. Operator WBV exposure was measured in accordance with ISO 2631-1 using a tri-axial seat pad accelerometer. According to ISO 2631-1, four of the seven large LHD vehicle operators and three of six small LHD vehicle operators were exposed to WBV above the 8-hour vibration dose value (VDV) health guidance caution zone (HGCZ). According to the EU Directive 2002/44/EC criteria one of the seven large LHD vehicle operators and one of the six small LHD vehicle operators were exposed to WBV above the VDV daily exposure limit. However, health risks predicted by ISO 2631-5 criteria only placed one of seven large LHD vehicle operators and one of the six small LHD vehicle operators in the high probability of an adverse health effect category. Thus, the probability of adverse health effects, associated with WBV exposure during LHD vehicle operation, is suggested to be greatest based on the ISO 2631-1 8-hour VDV HGCZ and lowest based on ISO 2631-5 Sed criterion values.
Highlights
It is estimated that 4% to 7% of the labor force in Canada, the United States and European countries are exposed to whole-body vibration (WBV) that increases their risk of harmful health effects [1]
Health risks associated with the operation of large and small LHD vehicles were evaluated according to ISO 2631-1, EU Directive 2002/44/EC and ISO 2631-5 criteria
Probability of health risks to the LHD operators were suggested to be greatest based on daily exposure criterion values published in ISO 2631-1, and lowest based on ISO 2631-5 criterion values
Summary
It is estimated that 4% to 7% of the labor force in Canada, the United States and European countries are exposed to whole-body vibration (WBV) that increases their risk of harmful health effects [1].Changes in mining work practices and a demand for increased productivity has seen almost all heavy physical work in mining replaced with sedentary work and mechanized equipment operation [2], the latter resulting in increased exposure to WBV. It is estimated that 4% to 7% of the labor force in Canada, the United States and European countries are exposed to whole-body vibration (WBV) that increases their risk of harmful health effects [1]. Operators of load-haul-dump (LHD) vehicles, in particular may be at increased injury risk due to postural demands and WBV exposure levels associated with harmful effects to the human body [3,4,5]. The human body dampens most vibration frequencies transmitted through the operator-seat interface, WBV between 1 Hz and 20 Hz results in resonance of the spinal column, pelvis, internal organs and soft tissues [6,7]. An even greater concern arises from chronic health effects associated with regular exposure to WBV, which include: spinal degeneration, spinal disc disease, disc failure, sciatic pain, herniated discs, low back pain, and gastrointestinal disorders [1,7,8,9]
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