Health risk assessment of noise, hand-arm vibration and cold in railway track maintenance

Abstract

Health risk assessment of noise, vibration and cold was carried out in track maintenance workers in Finland. A health survey among 252 workers and noise and vibration measurements of tools used in track maintenance work was performed, and audiograms were examined from 117 workers. Hand-held tamping machines had caused most of the exposure to noise and vibration in the track maintenance work. The present results showed how important it is also to take into account preventive and contributory factors when health risks are assessed. The predicted risk of hearing damage was 24%, but the observed value in a clinical study was only 15%, obviously due to the effect of hearing protectors. The prevalence of vibration-induced white finger (14%) was predicted quite well with the ISO 5349 standard, but no method was available to assess the risk of nerve disorders. The results showed that there are many limitations in health risk assessment used, e.g. behaviour and protection facilities had a great influence on the risk of frostbite.