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. 2021;68(2):473-481.
doi: 10.3233/WOR-203387.

Preventive action with a population of excavator drivers exposed to whole-body vibration

P Bossi  1 , P Meert  1
Affiliations

Preventive action with a population of excavator drivers exposed to whole-body vibration

P Bossi et al. Work. 2021.

Abstract

Background: Whole-body vibration is a major cause of lower back pain among employees, and the medical and preventive care teams of occupational health departments are often confronted with lower back pain problems among machine operators.

Objectives: The objectives of this research are to determine the number of excavator drivers exposed to whole-body vibration levels above 0.5m/s2, identify other exposure factors that may contribute to back pain, and propose corrective measures.

Methods: Vibration measurements were carried out on individual excavator drivers while they were observed carrying out working tasks, after which prevention advice is given. Factors which determine vibration levels are logged on to a database.

Results: The multivariate analysis of several determining factors shows vibration exposure levels vary depending on the varied work tasks being carried out.

Conclusion: This study identifies exposed employees among excavator operators. For each workstation, the determining factors that could explain the high exposures to vibrations are identified. This work shows the important role of tasks on exposure levels. A better adaptation of the tools used to carry out work tasks would allow a decrease in the vibration level of this type of machine.

Keywords: Occupational exposure; explanatory factors; modelisation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors state that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Installation of vibration measuring devices on the seat and floor of the cabin.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Wheel excavator operator working with a rock breaker for foundations preparation.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Worker driving a pneumatic shovel and digging a trench on a road.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Worker driving a crawler excavator on a quarry road.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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MeSH terms