Evaluation of i-Pod App to Assess Whole-Body Vibration and Seat Transmissibility on Mobile Mining Equipment

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.

Author(s):  
Hyoung-gon (Frank) Ryou ◽  
Peter W Johnson

A number of studies have shown an association between whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure and the onset and development of low back pain among professional vehicle operators. This study measured WBV exposures from 12 drivers who operated four different types of solid waste collecting trucks during part of their regular work shift. The daily average weighted A(8), vibration dose value VDV(8), and vector sum A(8) and VDV(8) exposures were analyzed and compared across the solid waste collecting trucks. Study result showed that the majority of A(8) and all of the VDV(8) predominant axis exposures were above International Organization for Standardization (ISO) daily vibration action limit (A(8) = 0.5 m/s2, VDV(8) = 9.1 m/s1.75). Based on the predominant axis and vector sum exposures, most of the trucks reached the daily vibration action limits before 8-hours. When compared to the predominant axis A(8) exposures, the predominant axis VDV(8) exposures reduced the acceptable solid waste collecting truck operating times on average by over 4 hours. Our study results demonstrated that these solid waste collecting truck operators were exposed to high levels of both continuous and impulsive WBV exposures, with the impulsive WBV exposures indicating that they may pose a greater risk to the driver’s health.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40
Author(s):  
Aline S. Reis ◽  
Laisa L. Paineiras-Domingos ◽  
Eloá Moreira-Marconi ◽  
Márcia C. Moura-Fernandes ◽  
Hervé Quinart ◽  
...  

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized bya group of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension,hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, low high-density cholesteroland increased abdominal fat. Over the years, changesin body composition occur, with accelerated loss of lean massand increased fat mass, favoring cardiometabolic disorders.A strong relationship exists between physical inactivity andthe presence of multiple risk factors for MetS. Thus, physicalexercise has been recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular,chronic and MetS diseases. Whole-body vibration(WBV) exercise can be considered to be an exercise modalitythat benefits the muscular strength and cardiovascular healthof elderly, sick and healthy people. Individuals with MetSare unmotivated to perform physical exercise regularly and,therefore, new approaches to intervention for this populationare desirable. Objectives: The aim of this study is to presenta protocol to verify the effect of WBV exercise on the bodycomposition of MetS individuals. Methods: Randomized controlledtrial with MetS individuals that will be allocated to anintervention group (WBVG) and a control group (CG). Participantswill be placed barefoot on the base of a side alternatingvibrating platform, with 130º knee flexion. Individuals (WBVGand CG) will perform the protocol for 12 weeks, twice a week.The CG subjects will perform the exercises at 5Hz throughoutthe intervention and those from the WBVG will perform the5Hz exercises in the first session, adding 1Hz per session, endingthe protocol at 16Hz. The body composition will be evaluatedbefore and after the protocol using bioelectrical impedanceanalysis. Discussion: Studies involving WBV exercise haveshown improvement in composition in individuals withdifferent conditions (healthy and unhealthy). Conclusion: Theproposed protocol will permit the acquisition of findings thatwill be relevant in the evaluation of the effect of the WBV onthe body composition of MetS individuals due to its ease ofrealization, low cost and safety.Keywords: Whole body vibration exercise; Metabolic syndrome;Physical activity.


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

Work ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 641-654
Author(s):  
Maria Lúcia Machado Duarte ◽  
Glauber Zerbini Costal ◽  
Sthéfani Ferreira Martinelli ◽  
Jorge Alexandre Barbosa Neves

BACKGROUND: Students, as well as other professional drivers, must have focus to adequately perform their tasks. However, they are subjected to whole-body vibration (WBV) in their journey to school or work. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of in-loco WBV exposure on focus, both instantaneously, as well as residually. Analysis is performed for both genders, as well as for the presence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). METHODS: Using a tablet computer, 20 volunteers played a focus game available on an app for brain training while exposed or not exposed to WBV. The exposure was that of a car travelling on a stone paved route. The performance measure was the score provided at the end of each game. Subjective comfort and difficulty evaluations were also investigated. RESULTS: The results suggest that WBV had a negative effect on the focus performance. However, it proved positive three minutes after the exposure (residual effect). The mean scores of females were higher than for males for most of the tests, apart from the one under WBV although at the expense of getting more discomfort. The difficulty level was not different within the gender groups. CONCLUSION: It could be concluded that the group with ADHD had a small but positive influence on the results for most of the tests, indicating that they are less affected by the presence of WBV. Since many students and workers have ADHD, this may be considered an important finding. It was shown that objective results should not be the only measures to use, as the subjective evaluation may explain the results better.


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.  


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