Case studies in whole-body vibration assessment in the transportation industry–Challenges in the field

We present three case studies in transportation to highlight difficulties experienced when assessing whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure within an industrial occupational health setting. Across the three cases and various vehicles, the z-axis was always dominant with acceleration values collected at the seat–operator interface ranging from 0.10–1.08 m/s2. Some of the main challenges discussed include the use and interpretation of safety standards, time and event sampling, effective access to equipment and operators, and lack of control when testing.Relevance to industryThere are many industries for which exposure to WBV is hazardous to employee health. As a result, many companies have become interested in measuring vibration levels associated with the operation of equipment. However, field measurements of WBV can be challenging. Successfully dealing with these challenges is necessary if health hazards are to be minimized.