Predictions of health risks associated with the operation of load-haul-dump mining vehicles, I:​ analysis of whole-body vibration exposure using ISO 2631-1 and ISO-2631-5 standards

Eger, T.; Stevenson, J.; Boileau, P.-É.; Salmoni, A.; VibRG

Affiliations

¹School of Human Kinetics, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ont., Canada P3E 2C6

²School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, 99 University Avenue, Kingston, Ont., Canada K7L 3N6

³IRSST, 505 De Maisonneuve West, Montréal, Que., Canada H3A 3C2

⁴School of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, Ont., Canada N6A 5B8

⁵Vibration Research Group, Laurentian University, IRSST, Queen's University, University of Western Ontario, MASHA and CSAO

Abstract and keywords

Predicted health risks, associated with the operation of load-haul-dump (LHD) vehicles, based on ISO 2631-1 criteria are limited and have not yet been determined according to ISO 2631-5 criteria. Therefore, health risks predicted by ISO 2631-1 and 2631-5 criteria are reported and compared in this paper. Whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure was measured according to procedures established in ISO 2631-1. A tri-axial seat pad accelerometer was used to measure vibration exposure at the operator/seat interface. According to ISO 2631-1 criteria, calculated 8-h equivalent vibration dose values placed three of the seven LHD operators above the health guidance caution zone (HGCZ) boundaries and four LHD operators within the HGCZ. However, health risks predicted by the ISO 2631-5 criteria were always lower than the risks predicted by ISO 2631-1 criteria.

Relevance to industry: In 2004, ISO released a new standard for the evaluation of WBV, ISO-2631-5. The boundaries for probable health effects were established using the best guidance at the time; however, they have not been epidemiologically validated and very few studies have reported health risks based on ISO 2631-5 criteria. This study provides a comparison of predicted health risks based on ISO 2631-1 and ISO 2631-5 and provides data that could suggest the ISO 2631-5 boundaries for probable health effects may be set too high. Alternatively, the data presented in this paper suggests more dialogue is required to identify the appropriate application of ISO 2631-1 and 2631-5 given the different health risks predicted for a data set with high shock content.

Keywords: Whole-body vibration; ISO 2631-1; ISO 2631-5; LHD vehicle; Mining

Links

DOI: 10.1016/j.ergon.2007.08.012

WoS: 000259845900010

History

Received: 2006-11-28

Revised: 2007-08-8

Accepted: 2007-08-28

Online: 2007-11-26

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Cited By (7)

Year	Entry
2010	Eger T, Contratto M, Dickey J. Influence of driving speed, terrain, seat performance and vehicle vibration control features on vibration exposure. In: Proceedings of the 3rd American Conference on Human Vibration. June 1-4, 2010; Iowa City, IA.102-103.
2010	Plewa K, Dickey JP, Eger T, Oliver M. Are comfort predictions from ISO 2631-1 and self-reported comfort values during occupational exposure to whole-body vehicular vibration related? In: Proceedings of the 3rd American Conference on Human Vibration. June 1-4, 2010; Iowa City, IA.95-96.
2009	Eger T, Harnish C, Oliver M, Dickey J. Predited health risks associated with vibration exposure in the steel making industry. In: 4th International Conference on Whole Body Vibration (WBV2009). June 2-4, 2009; Montreal, QC.113-114.
2017	Eger T. Whole-body vibration exposure and interventions in mining. In: 6th International Conference on Whole Body Vibration (WBV2017). June 19-21, 2017; Gothenburg, Sweden.24-29.
2010	Smets MPH, Eger TR, Grenier SG. 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. Appl Ergon. October 2010;41(6):763-770.
2014	Eger T, Thompson A, Leduc M, Krajnak K, Goggins K, Godwin A, House R. Vibration induced white-feet: overview and field study of vibration exposure and reported symptoms in workers. Work. 2014;47(1):101-110.
2012	Jack RJ. Investigating Whole-Body Vibration Injuries in Forestry Skidder Operators: Combining Operator Vibration Exposures and Postures in the Field With Biodynamic Responses in the Laboratory [PhD thesis]. Guelph, ON: University of Guelph; January 2012.