Risk Assessment and Management
MSc Environmental Management ands Assessment: Health and Safety Strand
Module: Risk Assessment and Management
Section: A Health & Safety
Student:
The nature of occupational vibration exposure
During many routine occupational tasks workers are exposed to a number of different physical factors, which can lead to adverse occupational health effects if not controlled in such a manner so as to reduce the exposure levels of workers to an acceptable level. One such occupational health risk is the exposure to vibration.
Occupational exposure to vibration is a long-standing and well-known risk. The occupational health effects of vibration result from extended periods of contact between a person and a vibrating surface. Vibrations arise when a body oscillates due to external and internal forces. Vibration may be transmitted to the human body through a body part which is in contact with a vibrating surface, for example, the handle of a machine, the surface of a piece of equipment, or the seat of a mobile machine (Griffin, 1990).
There are two classifications for occupational vibration exposure, these two types of vibration have different sources of origin, affect different areas of the body, vary in magnitude, and produce different symptoms. These include:
1. Whole-body vibration (WBV). This is the mechanical vibration that is transmitted to the human body by mobile or fixed machines where the operator is standing or seated. Vibrations can enter the body through 4 main entry points which include the feet, the buttocks, the back and the back of the head (Paschold, Helmut W. et al. 2011).
2. Hand-arm vibration (HAV). This is the mechanical vibration that is transmitted to the human hand-arm system by the operation of hand-held or hand guided tools.
Health effects of exposure to vibration
The health effects from exposure to vibration vary depending upon the route of exposure, the magnitude and frequency of vibration is transmitted to the
Module: Risk Assessment and Management
Section: A Health & Safety
Student:
The nature of occupational vibration exposure
During many routine occupational tasks workers are exposed to a number of different physical factors, which can lead to adverse occupational health effects if not controlled in such a manner so as to reduce the exposure levels of workers to an acceptable level. One such occupational health risk is the exposure to vibration.
Occupational exposure to vibration is a long-standing and well-known risk. The occupational health effects of vibration result from extended periods of contact between a person and a vibrating surface. Vibrations arise when a body oscillates due to external and internal forces. Vibration may be transmitted to the human body through a body part which is in contact with a vibrating surface, for example, the handle of a machine, the surface of a piece of equipment, or the seat of a mobile machine (Griffin, 1990).
There are two classifications for occupational vibration exposure, these two types of vibration have different sources of origin, affect different areas of the body, vary in magnitude, and produce different symptoms. These include:
1. Whole-body vibration (WBV). This is the mechanical vibration that is transmitted to the human body by mobile or fixed machines where the operator is standing or seated. Vibrations can enter the body through 4 main entry points which include the feet, the buttocks, the back and the back of the head (Paschold, Helmut W. et al. 2011).
2. Hand-arm vibration (HAV). This is the mechanical vibration that is transmitted to the human hand-arm system by the operation of hand-held or hand guided tools.
Health effects of exposure to vibration
The health effects from exposure to vibration vary depending upon the route of exposure, the magnitude and frequency of vibration is transmitted to the