BACKGROUND
Workers who stand on platforms or equipment that vibrate are exposed to foot-transmitted vibration (FTV). Exposure to FTV can lead to vibration white feet/toes resulting in blanching of the toes, and tingling and numbness in the feet and toes.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives are 1) to review the current state of knowledge of the health risks associated with foot-transmitted vibration (FTV), and 2) to identify the characteristics of FTV and discuss the associated risk of vibration-induced injury.
PARTICIPANTS
Workers who operated locomotives (n = 3), bolting platforms (n = 10), jumbo drills (n = 7), raise drilling platforms (n = 4), and crushers (n = 3), participated.
METHODS
A tri-axial accelerometer was used to measure FTV in accordance with ISO 2631-1 guidelines. Frequency-weighted root-mean-square acceleration and the dominant frequency are reported. Participants were also asked to report pain/ache/discomfort in the hands and/or feet.
RESULTS
Reports of pain/discomfort/ache were highest in raise platform workers and jumbo drill operators who were exposed to FTV in the 40 Hz and 28 Hz range respectively. Reports of discomfort/ache/pain were lowest in the locomotive and crusher operators who were exposed to FTV below 10 Hz. These findings are consistent with animal studies that have shown vascular and neural damage in exposed appendages occurs at frequencies above 40 Hz.
CONCLUSIONS
Operators exposed to FTV at 40 Hz appear to be at greater risk of experiencing vibration induced injury. Future research is required to document the characteristics of FTV and epidemiological evidence is required to link exposure with injury.
The frequency and amplitude characteristics of vibration experienced at the feet under typical mining equipment operation were documented in this study. Foottransmitted vibration (FTV) was measured using a tri-axial accelerometer mounted at the location where the worker stood. A musculoskeletal disorder questionnaire, work history and demographic information were also collected. Vibration from locomotives (primary source exposure) had a dominant frequency below 6.3 Hz; whereas, drilling and raise platforms (secondary source exposures) were predominantly in the 31.5 to 40 Hz range. All workers reported lower limb discomfort and two had been diagnosed with vibration induced white feet. All raise platforms exposed the workers to vibration levels that placed them above the ISO 2631-1 health guidance caution zone for an 8-hour exposure. Further investigation using both ISO 2631-1 and ISO 5341-1 standards is needed to determine long-term health effects to the whole-body and feet of workers exposed to FTV.
Abstract. BACKGROUND: Exposure to hand operated vibrating tools in the construction industry places workers at risk for developing hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), which is a common occupational disease. OBJECTIVE: To outline health and safety training obtained by construction workers and to assess which factors influence anti-vibration (AV) glove utilization following an educational intervention provided during a clinical assessment for HAVS at an occupational health clinic. METHODS: One hundred participating workers from the construction industry referred for a HAVS assessment at a hospitalbased ambulatory occupational health clinic in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A baseline and two-month follow-up questionnaire were completed. RESULTS: Almost all of the participants indicated that they had completed health and safety training within their workplace. However, few received training specific regarding HAVS or AV gloves. Participants' AV glove use improved from 4.3% at baseline to 53.3% at follow-up two months later. Key predictors of participants wearing AV gloves was sharing the educational intervention information with their supervisors and working in a workplace with 20 or more employees. CONCLUSIONS: Training specific to HAVS and AV gloves is lacking in the construction industry. The educational intervention proved most effective in increasing AV glove use when the information was shared within the workplace.
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