ALL SHOOK UPVIBRATIONS IN AGRICULTURE

Learning Objectives

• Understand what are vibrations and the risks they cause

• Recognize symptoms and effects – Hand arm and whole body vibrations

• Preventing and reducing injury

What is Vibration?

• Rapid movement to and from or oscillating movement.

• Hand-arm vibration (HAV) and or whole-body vibration (WBV).

• Agriculture vibrations come from a variety of sources– Tractor seats– Steering wheels– Power hand tools– Others?

Risk Factors

• Risk of permanent damage from vibration depends on a number of factors including:– how high the level of vibration is– how long the equipment is used for – short exposures and

occasional spells can be equally as damaging depending on other factors

– how tightly the equipment is gripped– how awkward the equipment is to use– how cold and wet it is when use the equipment is used.

Hand-Arm Vibrations (HAV)

• Use of tools and equipment that transmit vibrations into the hands and arms– chainsaws, brush cutters, and

grinders

• Long-term, regular exposure can lead to potentially permanent and debilitating health effects – hand-arm vibration syndrome,

vibration white finger and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Credits: sxc.hu

Whole Body Vibrations (WBV)

• Vibration transmitted through the seat or the feet by workplace machines and vehicles – Tractors, skid loaders, combines

• Travelling over rough ground (fields), along a track, and over bumps or potholes

• Regular, long-term exposure linked to lower back pain, early degeneration of spine, herniated discs

Whole Body Vibrations (WBV)

Factors that can increase or decrease WBV exposure include:

– road construction/ maintenance – vehicle type/design – age/condition of vehicle – maintenance of vehicle suspension systems – seat design, suspension and maintenance – cab layout, design and orientation – task design and work organization – vehicle speed, driver skills and awareness – lighting and visibility

Exposure to Vibrations

Minimal Risk: Must Manage Exposure

High Risk: Most likely to cause back pain

Extreme Risk: Must Restrict as much as possible

Combining

Hedging and Ditching

Self-Propelled foragers

Duties requiring power take-off not otherwise listed

Bailing

Drilling

Foraging

Spraying

Plowing

Harrowing

Cultivation (up to 5 ½ hrs)

Mowing (Up to 8 hrs)

Tedding (Up to 5 hours)

ATV (Up to 5 ½ hrs)

Cultivation (Over 5 ½ hrs)

Mowing ( Over 8 hrs)

Tedding (Over 5 hrs)

ATV ( Over 5 ½ hrs)

Prevention Methods

• Ensure vehicles and machinery are properly maintained• Make sure the drivers seat is in good repair and gives

good support• Make sure suspension seats are suitable for the

vibration characteristics of the machine• Make sure seats are properly adjusted to the size and

weight of operator• Choose the right vehicle for conditions, ground surface,

and task

Conclusion

• There are various sources of vibration in the agricultural industry

• Two of the most common conditions association with vibrations are Hand-Arm Vibrations and Whole-Body Vibrations

• Although you may not be able to eliminate them the risk of vibrations can be reduced through various prevention methods

References

• http://www.hsa.ie/eng/Topics/Physical_Agents/Vibration/

• http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/712/Whole_Body_Vibration_Fact_Sheet.pdf

• http://deohs.washington.edu/business-labor-resources/topics-z/vibration

• http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/advice/workplace-hazards/vibration.aspx#risks

• http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais20.pdf• http://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/topics/vibration.htm

For More Information

OSU Ag Safety & Health

The Ohio State University

Ag Engineering Building

590 Woody Hayes Drive

Columbus, Ohio 43210-1057

Email: jepsen.4@osu.edu

Phone: 614-292-6008

Website: agsafety.osu.edu

This project was supported by the USDA’s National Institute of Food

and Agriculture (NIFA) Rural Health and Safety Education Grant

Program- grant number 2012-46100-20144.