Risk Of Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome Research Articles

Effect Of Neurodynamic Mobilization On Reducing Sensori neural Symptopms In Dawung Village Wood Craftsmen With The Risk Of Hand Arm Vibartion Syndrome (HAVS)

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is a disease caused by working with tools that produce vibrations that are transmitted to the arms and hands. Prolonged use of vibrating devices can cause sensorineural disturbances with complaints of numbness, tingling and decreased sensitivity. This is due to damage to the mechanoreceptors of myelinated A-? afferent nerve fibers due to exposure to vibration when working with vibrating tools. Neurodynamic mobilization functions to restore the plasticity of the nervous system and the ability of the nervous system. This study aims to determine the effect of neurodynamic mobilization on reducing sensorineural symptoms with the risk of HAVS in wood craftsmen in Dawung Village. The design of this study used a pre-experimental one group pretest-posttest design method. There are 15 samples of wood craftsmen who meet the criteria. The research instrument used the Stockholm workshop scale with data analysis using the Wilcoxon test. The results of the statistical test showed that the final result was p = 0.000, (p <0.05) which means that the effect of neurodynamic mobilization on reducing sensorineural symptoms in wood craftsmen in Dawung Village is at risk of HAVS. These results indicate that the neurodynamic mobilization intervention has effectiveness in increasing blood circulation in the nerves. The conclusion obtained is that neurodynamic mobilization has an effect on reducing sensorineural symptoms in wood craftsmen in Dawung Village with the risk of HAVS.

The potential of hand tractor controller to reduce the risk of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is a disorder caused by vibration of work tools that vibrate the hands excessively or above the threshold. The impact of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) over a long period of time causes damage to blood vessels, permanent sensory loss, bone damage and muscle weakness. One of the workers with the presence of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is a hand tractor driver. To reduce vibrations received by hand tractor drivers that could potentially cause Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), a tractor control device was built by implementing the Internet Of Things (IoT). The hand tractor control device developed utilizes an Android-based application as a remote control, an access point as a connector, an electronic circuit based on the ESP8266 MCU Node to translate commands from the android application into motion to move the main clutch lever to forward and stop, gas lever, and gear clutch to turn left and right.

Development of a Tamping Rammer for Decreasing the Risk of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome

Development of a Tamping Rammer for Decreasing the Risk of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome

Occupational risks related to vibrations using a brush cutter for green area management

Weed control is one of the most important issues in the maintenance sectors of both agriculture and green areas. Small tools are employed for controlling grass and other growths on steep verges and river banks. This leads the operators being exposed to many risks among which vibration is one. The purpose of this study is to measure and evaluate hand-arm vibration and to verify the daily exposure to which workers are often subjected while weeding. Two cutting heads, a brush knife and a mowing head were compared. Both were mounted on the same cow-horn brush cutter. The vibration total value was expressed as the root-mean-square (rms) of three component values according to the axes X, Y and Z. The signal was frequency weighted using the weighting curve Wh, as described in the ISO 5349-1 (2001) standard. In addition, the daily vibration exposure was calculated and compared with the thresholds set by EU Directive 2002/44/EC (2005). The obtained results showed that the exposure action value (EAV) of 2.5 ms-2 was exceeded while using both cutting heads. The exposure limit value (ELV) using the brush knife also exceeded 5 ms-2. The results highlighted important aspects in terms of exposure values that should be considered with the view of preventing the risk of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) to which the operators who frequently use these tools are exposed. Specific measures should therefore be taken to protect the exposed workers.

Occupational hazards survey among coal workers using hand-held vibrating tools in a northern China coal mine

ObjectiveProlonged exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) is associated with an increased risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). This study aimed to identify the signs and symptoms associated with coal workers using hand-held vibrating tools in a northern China coal mine, and to determine the risk factors for HAVS. MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted of 167 male workers with part-time exposure to HTV. A structured questionnaire was administered to the workers along with a series of function tests. The frequency-weighted vibration acceleration of hand-held tools was measured. The prevalence ratio and symptom correlation to HAVS among the different subgroups were evaluated. ResultsThe prevalence of hand numbness, carpal tunnel syndrome, hand ache, tinnitus, memory loss, dizziness and headache showed significant differences in the longer-exposure groups (working years > 3 years or the daily-exposure duration > 2 h), compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Function tests showed abnormal findings only in vibration sensation and the X-ray examination of the longer-exposure groups (P < 0.05). The logistic regression analysis showed that longer working years, higher daily exposure and alcohol consumption were risk factors, while wearing anti-vibration gloves showed protective effects for hand numbness. ConclusionsThis study has identified the main signs and symptoms of HAVS among coal workers exposed to HTV in China. More information related to occupational safety and health programs are required to reduce the risk of HAVS.

Hand arm vibration measurement using micro-accelerometer in different brick structures

Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is a group of diseases caused by exposure of the hands to vibration while operating the hand held power tools such as road breaker, drilling machine, demolition hammer in construction works. In this paper, area-changed capacitive micro-accelerometer is designed to measure the vibration exposure on worker\'s hand when operating a drilling machine on various blocks such as clay block, paver block and solid cement block. The design process includes mathematical modelling of micro-accelerometer and simulations are done using INTELLISUITE 8.6. Experimental results are taken for various blocks surfaces using conventional and micro-accelerometer. Comparisons show that usage of area-changed micro-accelerometer for Hand-arm vibration monitoring provides better sensitivity, which in turn reduces the risk of HAVS in workers.

Exposure assessment in health assessments for hand-arm vibration syndrome

Assessing past cumulative vibration exposure is part of assessing the risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) in workers exposed to hand-arm vibration and invariably forms part of a medical assessment of such workers. To investigate the strength of relationships between the presence and severity of HAVS and different cumulative exposure metrics obtained from a self-reporting questionnaire. Cumulative exposure metrics were constructed from a tool-based questionnaire applied in a group of HAVS referrals and workplace field studies. These metrics included simple years of vibration exposure, cumulative total hours of all tool use and differing combinations of acceleration magnitudes for specific tools and their daily use, including the current frequency-weighting method contained in ISO 5349-1:2001. Use of simple years of exposure is a weak predictor of HAVS or its increasing severity. The calculation of cumulative hours across all vibrating tools used is a more powerful predictor. More complex calculations based on involving likely acceleration data for specific classes of tools, either frequency weighted or not, did not offer a clear further advantage in this dataset. This may be due to the uncertainty associated with workers' recall of their past tool usage or the variability between tools in the magnitude of their vibration emission. Assessing years of exposure or 'latency' in a worker should be replaced by cumulative hours of tool use. This can be readily obtained using a tool-pictogram-based self-reporting questionnaire and a simple spreadsheet calculation.

Tuned vibration absorber for suppression of hand-arm vibration in electric grass trimmer

Prolonged use of electric grass trimmer exposes the user to the risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome. A simple approach for the suppression of hand-arm vibration in electric grass trimmer is presented. The proposed system is a tuned vibration absorber (TVA). Modal analysis and operating deflection shape analysis of the electric grass trimmer were carried out and a TVA was designed and fabricated for testing. The results indicated that minimum vibration level was related to the position of the TVA on the shaft of electric grass trimmer. The TVA was found to have best performance with 95% reduction on the acceleration level at position 0.025L. The results from modal analysis and operating deflection shape revealed that the presence of TVA has successfully reduced the large deformations of the handle where the node was shifted nearer to the handle location. The effect of TVA was also evaluated during field test involving grass trimming operation and subjective rating. The results indicated that average reduction of frequency-weighted rms acceleration in the Z h- axis was 84% and 72% in X h- axis for the cutting operation. For the no cutting operation, the reduction is 82% in Z h- axis and 67% in X h- axis. The presence of TVA in the electric grass trimmer has amplified the vibration level in Y h- axis by 19% (no cutting) and 21% (cutting). From the field test, subjective rating of vibration perception consistently rate better for controlled electric grass trimmer. Relevance to industry The tuned vibration absorber when installed to the electric grass trimmer attenuated the vibration total value by 67%. This significantly reduces the risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome.

Дослідження ризику захворювання на вібраційну хворобу та вегето-сенсорну поліневропатію рук у шахтарів вугільних шахт Львівської області

Дослідження ризику захворювання на вібраційну хворобу та вегето-сенсорну поліневропатію рук у шахтарів вугільних шахт Львівської області

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome among Quarry Workers in Vietnam

Few studies have focused on the health effects of vibrating tools on workers in the tropical area. Work conditions and health effects related to rock drill operation were studied in 102 quarry workers, including 73 rock drill operators in Vietnam. We aimed to clarify (1) risk of vibration exposure, (2) occurrence of vibration-induced white finger (VWF), and (3) characteristics of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Total weighted r.m.s. acceleration of the Chinese -or Russian-made rock drills, was 45-55 m/s(2). According to work observation studies, daily exposure time to vibration was 160-210 min. ISO5349 predicted that this exposure level would be associated with a high risk of HAVS in workers. We found no clear evidence of VWF. There may be several reasons why no worker exhibited VWF: (1) warmer work conditions, (2) younger and less experienced workers, (3) seasonal changes in work operations, and (4) healthy worker effect. On the other hand, 5-10% of rock drill operators might be suffering from moderate HAVS which was sensori-neural type dominant. There may be some characteristic features of HAVS among quarry workers in the tropical area.

Risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome according to occupation and sources of exposure to hand-transmitted vibration: A national survey.

Although some occupational sources of hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) have been extensively investigated, the risks associated with others are poorly characterized. A questionnaire was mailed to a community sample of 12,240 men aged 16- 64 years and 906 men from the armed forces. Questions covered current occupation, sources of HTV, numbness or tingling in the fingers in the past week, and finger blanching. In the 5,364 respondents who had been at work in the past week, associations between symptoms and exposures were examined by logistic regression, with odds ratios converted into prevalence ratios (PRs). Altogether, 513 men (10%) reported cold-induced finger blanching and 769 (14%) sensory symptoms in the fingers. The risk of blanching was increased in builders (PR 2.4, 95% CI 1.0-5.2), carpenters and joiners (PR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0-3.4), motor mechanics (PR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-4.6), and laborers (PR 2.8, 95% CI 1.3-6.0); while the risk of sensory symptoms was elevated in laborers (PR 4.0, 95% CI 2.3-6.6) and plant operatives (PR 3.5, 95% CI 1.9-5.9). Use of hand-guided mowers, concrete breakers, chain saws, and jig saws was significantly associated with symptoms. Little attention has been paid to the risks of vibration injury in construction workers, woodworkers, motor mechanics, and laborers, or to the risks from mowers, jig saws and several other common vibratory tools. These should be a focus for further investigation and preventive measures.