Long duration measurements of whole-body vibration exposures associated with surface coal mining equipment compared to previous short-duration measurements

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 339-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Burgess-Limerick ◽  
Danellie Lynas
1984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Remington ◽  
Douglas W. Andersen ◽  
Gerald Redmond ◽  
Roy Bartholomae

Author(s):  
D. Lynas ◽  
R. Burgess-Limerick

Studies conducted on surface coal mining equipment have identified whole-body vibration as a significant hazard. Operators of underground mobile equipment, particularly shuttle cars and transport vehicles, are likely to be exposed to significant levels of whole-body vibration. To date, measuring whole-body vibration from underground mining mobile equipment has been difficult due to the strict guidelines governing the use of electrical equipment in underground mines. This paper presents data obtained from two low-methane coal mines using an iOS application installed on iPod Touch devices. The majority of measurements taken from a range of mobile plant and equipment in use at the underground coal mines exceeded the ISO2631.1 Health Guidance Caution Zone. Further investigations are being undertaken to develop a thorough understanding of whole-body vibration exposures to which operators of mobile equipment used in underground coal mines are exposed and the opportunities for application of this information to assist mine site safety, health and risk management processes.


Author(s):  
Alan G. Mayton ◽  
Brian Y. Kim

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) performed a pilot study focusing on the measurement accuracy of a mobile iOS application (app) to assess whole-body vibration (WBV) and seat performance on mobile mining equipment. The major objectives of this study were to assess the accuracy of an iPod app and determine if a pair of iPods running the iPod app were suitable to measure SEAT (Seat Effective Amplitude Transmissibility) value. The goal is to recommend a simple method to determine when a vehicle seat may need to be repaired, replaced, or adjusted. The study showed that the iPod app has the potential to serve as a low-cost tool to estimate WBV exposures to operators of mobile mining equipment. The study results were similar to those obtained by Burgess-Limerick et al. for operator WBV exposures on mining equipment. In contrast, an effort to examine seat performance using the mobile app showed greater variation between the app and the precision Siemens/LMS system selected as the “gold standard.” When comparing the Siemens/LMS and iPod pair systems, SEAT values calculated using weighted-root-mean-square acceleration (aw) resulted in a mean percent difference of 8.5±7.9%, whereas those calculated using vibration dose value (VDV) resulted in a mean percent difference of 5.5±4.4%. Additional data collection is necessary to determine what factors may be associated with this variance.


1983 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 472-472
Author(s):  
John C. Guignard ◽  
Alvah C. Bittner ◽  
Mary M. Harbeson

Oscillatory ship motion and vibration effects on crews in modern naval air and sea systems can be the limiting factor in mission performance. The mechanisms of these effects, however, have not yet been clearly delineated; nor have a practical taxonomy and standard methodology for distinguishing and evaluating the deleterious action of whole-body vibratory motion on human performance been established. Some effects of vibration on performance appear to be directly attributable to immediate mechanical disruption of input and /or output (i.e., interference at the points of contact—displays or controls—between operator and task). Far more meager is clear evidence for time-dependent disruptive or degrading effects of vibration on central cognitive processes: these of course may also be affected indirectly by changes in the physiological state (including motion sickness and fatigue) induced by the motion or vibration. The distinction between direct and indirect mechanisms of performance decrement in the motion environment has important implications for both protective measures and the focus of future research. This report considers published work on the performance effects of vibration in relation to the etiology of performance change and those implications. A critical review of the methodology of performance studies in motion and vibration environments is under way at the Naval Biodynamics Laboratory; and a series of experiments (some previously published) on whole-body vibration effects on performance is also in progress. While the duality of the mechanisms of action of oscillatory motion on performance remains an open question, the evidence so far adduced for other than direct mechanical effects is sparse, at least in the frequency range of major body resonance phenomena. Further experimentation, including long-duration studies, is needed to resolve this question. Implications both for future research directions and for current national and international standardization efforts in this area are discussed.


2018 ◽  
pp. 383-387
Author(s):  
Joana Duarte ◽  
M. Luísa Matos ◽  
J. Castelo Branco ◽  
J. Santos Baptista

Author(s):  
J. Duarte ◽  
J. Castelo Branco ◽  
M. Luísa Matos ◽  
J. Santos Baptista

Whole body vibration (WBV) is an emerging issue for the mining industry, occuring from the exposure due to many mining operations. This systematic review protocol intends to give answer to the question "what mining equipment contributes the most to occupational whole body vibration and under what conditions?". For that, the main engineering and health databases were selected (i.e Scopus, Science Direct and PubMed) and a set of keywords was defined to latter combination. The selection process of the papers was also described in an attempt to contribute to the general research on this field. All of the data treatment is detailed, including the risk of bias and attempts to deal with it. The protocol for the systematic review is registered in PROSPERO under the code CRD42018087629.  


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document