A study of vibration exposure and work practices of Loader and Dozer operators in opencast mines
Background: Exposure to whole body vibration (WBV) at work and development of musculoskeletal disorders are well linked. Vehicle vibrations are usually perceived to occur in vertical direction and are likely to cause lumbar disorders in operators. Vibration characteristics of the machines need to be...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Occupational Health and Safety Society of Nepal
2012-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/IJOSH/article/view/6144 |
| _version_ | 1818983794050334720 |
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| author | Bibhuti Bhusan Mandal Krishnendu Sarkar Veena Manwar |
| author_facet | Bibhuti Bhusan Mandal Krishnendu Sarkar Veena Manwar |
| author_sort | Bibhuti Bhusan Mandal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Exposure to whole body vibration (WBV) at work and development of musculoskeletal disorders are well linked. Vehicle vibrations are usually perceived to occur in vertical direction and are likely to cause lumbar disorders in operators. Vibration characteristics of the machines need to be studied and compared with work practices which may indicate nature of health risk to operators. This may help in developing specific action plans to control vibration related health risk.
Objective: The objectives of the study were, to measure and analyze vibration magnitudes, observe work practices of Loaders and Dozers, evaluate health risk to their operators and to formulate recommendations for control measures.
Methods and Material: Frequency weighted Root Mean Square values of acceleration data was collected as per guidelines in ISO 2631-1:1997 using human vibration analyzers. WBV exposure of 40 (Forty) Loader and Dozer operators in eight opencast mines were evaluated to assess health risk using vibration magnitude and corresponding daily exposure durations.
Results and Conclusion: The dominant axis of vibration in dozers was found to be X (front to back) in 80% of the equipments. This is different from transporting equipment like Dumpers which have Z axis as dominant axis of vibration. A continuous change of movement in forward and reverse direction and rash driving were found to be contributory factors for increased vibration intensity along X- axis. It was observed that 27(68%) of them showed moderate whereas 12(30%) equipment showed high health risk. It is suggested that vibration control measures should be designed and adopted based not only on the intensity but also on the dominant axis typical to the equipment and work practices.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v2i2.6144
International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, Vol 2. No 2 (2012) 3-7 |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T18:08:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7c0484f31524406a9aca504ab2df0229 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2091-0878 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T18:08:46Z |
| publishDate | 2012-07-01 |
| publisher | Occupational Health and Safety Society of Nepal |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-7c0484f31524406a9aca504ab2df02292022-12-21T19:30:31ZengOccupational Health and Safety Society of NepalInternational Journal of Occupational Safety and Health2091-08782012-07-012210.3126/ijosh.v2i2.6144A study of vibration exposure and work practices of Loader and Dozer operators in opencast minesBibhuti Bhusan Mandal0Krishnendu Sarkar1Veena Manwar2Assistant Director National Institute of Miners' HealthJunior Research Fellow, National Institute of Miners' HealthJunior Research Fellow, National Institute of Miners' HealthBackground: Exposure to whole body vibration (WBV) at work and development of musculoskeletal disorders are well linked. Vehicle vibrations are usually perceived to occur in vertical direction and are likely to cause lumbar disorders in operators. Vibration characteristics of the machines need to be studied and compared with work practices which may indicate nature of health risk to operators. This may help in developing specific action plans to control vibration related health risk. Objective: The objectives of the study were, to measure and analyze vibration magnitudes, observe work practices of Loaders and Dozers, evaluate health risk to their operators and to formulate recommendations for control measures. Methods and Material: Frequency weighted Root Mean Square values of acceleration data was collected as per guidelines in ISO 2631-1:1997 using human vibration analyzers. WBV exposure of 40 (Forty) Loader and Dozer operators in eight opencast mines were evaluated to assess health risk using vibration magnitude and corresponding daily exposure durations. Results and Conclusion: The dominant axis of vibration in dozers was found to be X (front to back) in 80% of the equipments. This is different from transporting equipment like Dumpers which have Z axis as dominant axis of vibration. A continuous change of movement in forward and reverse direction and rash driving were found to be contributory factors for increased vibration intensity along X- axis. It was observed that 27(68%) of them showed moderate whereas 12(30%) equipment showed high health risk. It is suggested that vibration control measures should be designed and adopted based not only on the intensity but also on the dominant axis typical to the equipment and work practices. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v2i2.6144 International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, Vol 2. No 2 (2012) 3-7https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/IJOSH/article/view/6144whole body vibrationmine hazardsenvironmental healthoccupational healthwork practicemining machinery |
| spellingShingle | Bibhuti Bhusan Mandal Krishnendu Sarkar Veena Manwar A study of vibration exposure and work practices of Loader and Dozer operators in opencast mines International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health whole body vibration mine hazards environmental health occupational health work practice mining machinery |
| title | A study of vibration exposure and work practices of Loader and Dozer operators in opencast mines |
| title_full | A study of vibration exposure and work practices of Loader and Dozer operators in opencast mines |
| title_fullStr | A study of vibration exposure and work practices of Loader and Dozer operators in opencast mines |
| title_full_unstemmed | A study of vibration exposure and work practices of Loader and Dozer operators in opencast mines |
| title_short | A study of vibration exposure and work practices of Loader and Dozer operators in opencast mines |
| title_sort | study of vibration exposure and work practices of loader and dozer operators in opencast mines |
| topic | whole body vibration mine hazards environmental health occupational health work practice mining machinery |
| url | https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/IJOSH/article/view/6144 |
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