Abstract
Vibration transmitted through the foot can lead to vibration white feet, resulting in blanching of the toes and the disruption of blood circulation. Controlled studies identifying industrial boot characteristics effective at attenuating vibration exposure are lacking. This work focused on the evaluation of vibration transmissibility of boot midsole materials and insoles across the range 10–200 Hz at different foot locations. Questionnaires were used to evaluate the comfort of each material. The materials were less effective at attenuating vibration transmitted to the toe region of the foot than the heel. Between 10 and 20 Hz, all midsole materials reduced the average vibration transmitted to the foot. The average transmissibility at the toes above 100 Hz was larger than 1, evidencing that none of the tested material protects the worker from vibration-related risks. There was a poor correlation between the vibration transmissibility and the subjective evaluation of comfort. Future research is needed to identify materials effective for protecting both the toe and the heel regions of the foot. Specific standards for shoe testing are required as well.
Highlights
The percentage of workers exposed to foot-transmitted vibration (FTV) has not been teased out from whole-body vibration exposure rates typically published in epidemiological studies
The percentage of workers annually exposed to FTV remains unknown, up to 7% of European and North American workers are exposed to whole-body vibration [1]
The primary objective of this study was to evaluate vibration transmissibility to the foot when standing on four different midsoles and three different insole materials
Summary
A worker can be exposed to foot-transmitted vibration (FTV) through foot controls when operating mobile equipment or from a vibrating surface they stand on to operate equipment/tools. The percentage of workers exposed to FTV has not been teased out from whole-body vibration exposure rates typically published in epidemiological studies. The percentage of workers annually exposed to FTV remains unknown, up to 7% of European and North American workers are exposed to whole-body vibration [1]. Two studies [2,3] reported FTV exposure in mining operations, while information about other industrial sectors remains missing
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