Evaluation of Health Risk Level of Hand-Arm and Whole-Body Vibrations on the Technical Operators and Equipment in a Tobacco-Producing Company in Nigeria

Abstract

Vibration is experienced when a body is subjected to either internal or external forces which cause oscillation, with most operators of industrial equipment often exposed to high dosage, higher than the stipulated values. In this research, Digital Real-Time Frequency Analyzer (RSA 5106A) was used, while the results obtained were evaluated and compared with the health guidelines of the ISO 2631-1 : 1997 and ISO 2631-5 : 2004 standards, as described in the Health Guidance Caution Zone for a daily exposure action value (EAV) of 0.47 m/s2 and a daily exposure limit value (ELV) of 0.93 m/s. High acceleration was mostly seen on the z-axis in all the results obtained, whereas many were not within the HGCZ (Arms <0.47, and >0.93 m/s2). Comparing (VDV <8.5 m/s1.75 and >17 m/s1.75) with the ISO standard, the accelerations on all x- and y-axes were slightly within the HGCZ, with just a little below 0.47 m/s2 limit. The results obtained clearly showed that urgent action is needed virtually on all the equipment in both the Secondary Manufacturing Department (SMD) and Primary Manufacturing Department (PMD) to minimize vibration exposure on the technical operators.

Vibration Characteristics Analysis of Human- Robot Coupled System for Walking Posture of Elderly-Assistant Robot

“…As most of the existing vibration analyses only focus on the seated posture of the robot-human system, and considering the fact that the vibration-induced at the human hand is crucial and closely related to the ride comfort and health risks of the elderly, it is essential to assess the hand transmitted vibration of the elderly. The few studies for the hand transmitted vibration are for hand held pneumatic extinguishers [42], and tobacco factory operations [43], which are bears different equipment and working environment. Thus, the main contribution of this paper is that it has investigated the vibration characteristics of the roadrobot-human interaction for the walking assistant process.…”

Vibration Exposure Assessment of Sawmilling Operations Using Hand- Arm-Vibration Exposure Analysis

“…According to Zinck [6], thousands of workers become exposed daily to highly repetitive, awkward postures and forceful exertions or vibrations while doing their jobs. These factors all contribute to the rising costs of claims for musculoskeletal disorders such as low back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome [7]. Also, Seidel [8] and Bovenzi et al, [9] explained that in industrial environments especially sawmills, workers often become exposed to varying levels of two different types of vibration, which are the whole-body vibration and hand-arm vibration.…”