Title: Assessment of whole-body vibration exposures and influencing factors for quarry haul truck drivers and loader operators

Authors: Alan G. Mayton; Christopher C. Jobes; Sean Gallagher

Addresses: Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control, P.O. Box 18070, 626, Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA ' Office of Mine Safety and Health Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control, P.O. Box 18070, 626, Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA ' Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Auburn University, 3304 Shelby Center, AL 36849-5346, USA

Abstract: To further assess vibration exposure on haul trucks (HTs) and frontend wheel loaders (FELs), follow-up investigations were conducted at two US crushed stone operations. The purpose was to: 1) evaluate factors such as load/no-load conditions, speed, load capacity, vehicle age, and seat transmissibility relative to vibration exposure; 2) compare exposure levels with existing ISO/ANSI and EUGPG guidelines. Increasing HT speed increased recorded vibration at the chassis and seat as expected. Neither vehicle load nor vehicle speed increased transmissibility. Increasing HT size and age did show transmissibility decreasing. HT dominant-axis wRMS levels (most often the y-axis, lateral or side-to-side direction) were predominantly within the health guidance caution zone (HGCZ). However, several instances showed vibration dose value (VDV) above the exposure limit value (ELV) for the ISO/ANSI guidelines. VDV levels (all dominant x-axis or fore-aft) were within and above the HGCZ for the EUGPG and above the HGCZ for ISO/ANSI guidelines.

Keywords: haul truck drivers; loader operators; whole-body vibration; vibration exposure; WBV guidelines; WBV standards; HGCZ; health guidance caution zone; heavy vehicles; quarry haul trucks; frontend wheel loaders; load conditions; no-load conditions; vehicle speed; load capacity; vehicle age; seat transmissibility.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHVS.2014.066080

International Journal of Heavy Vehicle Systems, 2014 Vol.21 No.3, pp.241 - 261

Published online: 30 Apr 2015 *

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