The effects of standing foot-transmitted vibration on self-reported discomfort ratings.

Background: Occupational foot-transmitted vibration (FTV) exposure is common in industries like mining, construction, and agriculture, often leading to acute and chronic injuries. Vibration assessments require technical expertise and equipment which can be costly for employers to perform. Alternatively, researchers have observed that self-reported discomfort can be used as an effective indicator of injury risk.

Safety Culture: A Retrospective Analysis of Occupational Health and Safety Mining Reports.

Background: In the mining industry, various methods of accident analysis have utilized official accident investigations to try and establish broader causation mechanisms. An emerging area of interest is identifying the extent to which cultural influences, such as safety culture, are acting as drivers in the reoccurrence of accidents. Thus, the overall objective of this study was to analyze occupational health and safety (OHS) reports in mining to investigate if/how safety culture has historically been framed in the mining industry, as it relates to accident causation.

Standing centre of pressure alters the vibration transmissibility response of the foot.

Vibration-white foot as an occupational disease has underscored the need to better understand the vibration response of the foot. While vibration transmissibility data exist for a natural standing position, it is anticipated that weight distribution will affect the response. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of changes in centre of pressure (COP) on the foot's biomechanical response.

Biomechanical response of the human foot when standing in a natural position while exposed to vertical vibration from 10-200 Hz.

Exposure to foot-transmitted vibration (FTV) can lead to pain and numbness in the toes and feet, increased cold sensitivity, blanching in the toes, and joint pain. Prolonged exposure can result in a clinical diagnosis of vibration-induced white foot (VIWFt). Data on the biomechanical response of the feet to FTV is limited; therefore, this study seeks to identify resonant frequencies for different anatomical locations on the human foot, while standing in a natural position.

Evaluation of the vibration attenuation properties of an air-inflated cushion with two different heavy machinery seats in multi-axis vibration environments including jolts.

Seats and cushions can attenuate whole-body vibration (WBV) exposures and minimize health risks for heavy machine operators. We successfully developed neural network (NN) algorithms to identify the vibration attenuation properties for four different seating conditions (seat/cushion combinations), and implemented each of the NN models to predict the equivalent daily exposure A(8) values for various vehicles in the forestry and mining environments. We also evaluated the performance of the new prototype No-Jolt™ air-inflated cushion and the original cushion of each seat with jolt exposures.

Selecting seats for steel industry mobile machines based on seat effective amplitude transmissibility and comfort.

Objective: The purpose of this work was to help a steel industry partner select the most appropriate of three high end heavy equipment seats to retrofit a number of their heavy mobile machines used in the steel making process.

Participants: The participants included 8 males (22.3 ± 2.

Ergonomic and usability ratings of helmets and head-mounted personal protective equipment in industry.

Background: Anecdotal evidence from industry suggests that those working as arborists prefer to use minimal brim style, climbing helmets rather than traditional forestry helmets. In the mining industry, workers prefer wireless, LED cap lamps. Workers cite better comfort, better ability to see their work and better ventilation as reasons to use those helmets and cap lamps.

Whole-body vibration experienced by haulage truck operators in surface mining operations: a comparison of various analysis methods utilized in the prediction of health risks.

Whole body vibration (WBV) was measured on eight surface haulage trucks in three size classes (35, 100, 150ton haul capacities). Vibration was measured at the seat/operator interface in accordance with the ISO 2631-1 standard during 1h of normal operation. Highest acceleration readings were observed in the z-axis (vertical).

A systematic approach to simulating field-based occupational whole-body vibration exposure in the lab using a 6df robot.

Background: Whole-body vibration is a significant workplace risk factor for discomfort and injury in many work sectors. The current approach for evaluating vibration exposures typically involves field studies of seatpan acceleration while the operators perform typical workplace activities. These vibration exposures are then compared to international standards to evaluate the risk of discomfort or injury.

Predictors of whole-body vibration exposure experienced by highway transport truck operators.

Whole-body-vibration (WBV) exposure levels experienced by transport truck operators were investigated to determine whether operator's exposure exceeded the 1997 International Standards Organization (ISO) 2631-1 WBV guidelines. A second purpose of the study was to determine which truck characteristics predicted the levels of WBV exposures experienced. The predictor variables selected based on previous literature and our transportation consultant group included road condition, truck type, driver experience, truck mileage and seat type.

An exploratory study of whole-body vibration exposure and dose while operating heavy equipment in the construction industry.

Whole-body vibration measurements were recorded for various types of heavy equipment used within the construction industry. The purpose of these measurements was to provide more information about the potential levels of whole-body vibration experienced by equipment operators in the construction industry, as well as to identify types of equipment warranting further research. In total, 67 pieces of equipment were tested from 14 different equipment types.