Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reducing Exposure to Vibration at Work: Building a Regulatory Policy Intervention from the Ground Up

  • Technical Note
  • Published:
Acoustics Australia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Occupational exposure to hazardous levels of vibration is associated with a range of adverse health outcomes, including vibration white finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders. A 2010 Safe Work Australia self-reported survey identified that approximately 24 % of Australian workers experience exposure to vibration in their workplace. The survey found there was low awareness of the adverse effects of exposure to vibration and little use of controls to reduce exposure to vibration. The authors of the report recommended that consideration be given to development of a regulatory intervention for vibration, similar to the approach taken in the European Union contained in the Machinery and Vibration Directives. This would address the gap in treatment of this workplace hazard in Australian Work Health and Safety laws at the current time. In 2011, Safe Work Australia started a project to develop awareness in the area, build an evidence base for policy action and develop guidance material. We detail the approach taken in the European Union, the steps undertaken so far in Australia, and provide a sense of what is to come.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Bovenzi, M.: Hand-arm vibration syndrome and dose–response relation for vibration induced white finger among quarry drillers and stonecarvers. Italian Study Group on Physical Hazards in the Stone Industry. Occup. Environ. Med. 51, 603–611 (1994). doi:10.1136/oem.51.9.603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Bovenzi, M.: Health effects of mechanical vibration. G Ital Med Lav Ergon. 27(1), 58–64 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bovenzi, M., Betta, A.: Low-back disorders in agricultural tractor drivers exposed to whole-body vibration and postural stress. Appl. Ergon. 25, 231–241 (1994). doi:10.1016/0003-6870(94)90004-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Bovenzi, M., Franzinelli, A., Strambi, F.: Prevalence of vibration-induced white finger and assessment of vibration exposure among travertine workers in Italy. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 61, 25–34 (1988). doi:10.1007/BF00381604

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Bovenzi, M., Zadini, A., Franzinelli, A., Borgogni, F.: Occupational musculoskeletal disorders in the neck and upper limbs of forestry workers exposed to hand-arm vibration. Ergonomics 34, 547–562 (1991). doi:10.1080/00140139108967336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bovenzi, M., Franzinelli, A., Mancini, R., Cannava, M.G., Maiorano, M., Ceccarelli, F.: Dose-response relation for vascular disorders induced by vibration in the fingers of forestry workers. Occup. Environ. Med. 52, 722–730 (1995). doi:10.1136/oem.52.11.722

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Bovenzi, M., Zadini, A.: Self-reported low back symptoms in urban bus drivers exposed to whole-body vibration. Spine 17(9), 1048–1059 (1992)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Bongers, P.M., Boshuizen, H.C., Hulshof, C.T., Koemeester, A.P.: Back disorders in crane operators exposed to whole-body vibration. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 60, 129–137 (1988). doi:10.1007/BF00381494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Boshuizen, H.C., Bongers, P.M., Hulshof, C.T.: Self-reported back pain in tractor drivers exposed to whole-body vibration. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 62(2), 109–115 (1990). doi:10.1007/BF00383586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Brammer, A.J., Taylor, W., Piercy, J.E.: Assessing the severity of the neurological component of the hand-arm vibration syndrome. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 12, 428–431 (1986). doi:10.5271/sjweh.2118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Brammer, A.J., Taylor, W.: Vibration Effects on the Hand and Arm in Industry: A Collection of Papers from the Third International Symposium on Hand-Arm Vibration. Wiley, New York (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Brubaker, R.L., Mackenzie, C.J., Eng, P.R., Bates, D.V.: Vibration white finger disease among tree fellers in British columbia. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 25(5), 403–408 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Brereton, P.: Impact of European Directive 2002/44/EC on the risk of developing hand-arm vibration syndrome in Great Britain, 12 Int Conference on Hand Arm Vibration. Ottawa, Canada, 13–17 June (2011)

  14. Brubaker, R.L., Mackenzie, C.J., Hertzman, C., Hutton, S.G., Slakov, J.: Longitudinal study of vibration-induced white finger among coastal fallers in British Columbia. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 13, 305–308 (1987). doi:10.5271/sjweh.2035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Burgess, M., Foster, G.: Implementation and effectiveness of the European Directive relating to vibration in the workplace. Safe Work Australia. http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/implementation-and-effectiveness-of-the-european-directive-relating-to-vibration-in-the-workplace (2012). Accessed 2 Feb 2016

  16. Dimberg, L., Odén, A.N.: White finger symptoms: a cross-sectional study. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 62(9 Pt 1), 879–883 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Directive 2006/42/EC – Machinery: European Union. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32006L0042. Accessed 2 Feb 2016

  18. Directive 2002/44/EC – Vibration.: European Union. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32002L0044 Accessed 2 Feb 2016

  19. Ekenvall, L., Gemne, G.O., Tegner, R.: Correspondence between neurological symptoms and outcome of quantitative sensory testing in the hand-arm vibration syndrome. Br J. Ind. Med. 46, 570–574 (1989). doi:10.1136/oem.46.8.570

    Google Scholar 

  20. Ekenvall, L., Nilsson, B.Y., Gustavsson, P.: Temperature and vibration thresholds in vibration syndrome. Br. J. Ind. Med. 43, 825–829 (1986). doi:10.1136/oem.43.12.825

    Google Scholar 

  21. Health and Safety Executive.: Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. Health and Safety Executive, United Kingdom. http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/regulations.htm (2005). Accessed 2 Feb 2016

  22. Hutchinson, G.: National Hazard Exposure Work Surveillance: Vibration exposure and the provision of vibration control measures in Australian workplaces. Safe Work Australia. http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/rp201007nhewsvibrationexposureandprovisionofvibrationcontrol (2010). Accessed 2 Feb 2016

  23. Kittusamy, N.K., Buchholz, B.: Whole-body vibration and postural stress among operators of construction equipment: A literature review. J. Saf. Res. 35, 255–261 (2004). doi:10.1016/j.jsr.2004.03.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Kivekäs, J., Riihimäki, H., Husman, K., Hänninen, K., Härkönen, H., Kuusela, T., Pekkarinen, M., Tola, S., Zitting, A.J.: Seven-year follow-up of white-finger symptoms and radiographie wrist findings in lumberjacks and referents. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health (1994). doi:10.5271/sjweh.1425

  25. Koskimies, K., Pyykkö, I., Starck, J., Inaba, R.: Vibration syndrome among Finnish forest workers between 1972 and 1990. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health (1992). doi:10.1007/BF00378282

  26. Letz, R., Cherniack, M.G., Gerr, F., Hershman, D., Pace, P.: A cross sectional epidemiological survey of shipyard workers exposed to hand-arm vibration. Br. J. Ind. Med. (1992). doi:10.1136/oem.49.1.53

  27. McKenna, K.M., McGrann, S., Blann, A.D., Allen, J.A.: An investigation into the acute vascular effects of riveting. Br. J. Ind. Med. (1993). doi:10.1136/oem.50.2.160

  28. Mirbod, S.M., Yoshida, H., Komura, Y., Fujita, S., Nagata, C., Miyashita, K., Inaba, R., Iwata, H.: Prevalence of Raynaud’s phenomenon in different groups of workers operating hand-held vibrating tools. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health (1994). doi:10.1007/BF00386574

  29. Mirbod, S.M., Yoshida, H., Nagata, C., Inaba, R., Komura, Y., Iwata, H.: Hand-arm vibration syndrome and its prevalence in the present status of private forestry enterprises in Japan. Int. Arch Occup. Environ. Health (1992). doi:10.1007/BF00381475

  30. Miyashita, K., Morioka, I., Tanabe, T., Iwata, H., Takeda, S.: Symptoms of contruction workers exposed to whole body vibration and local vibration. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health (1992). doi:10.1007/BF00379545

  31. Musson, Y., Burdorf, A., Van Drimmelen, D.: Exposure to shock and vibration and symptoms in workers using impact power tools. Ann. Occup. Hyg. (1989). doi:10.1093/annhyg/33.1.85

  32. Nagata, C., Yoshida, H., Mirbod, S.M., Komura, Y., Fujita, S., Inaba, R., Iwata, H., Maeda, M., Shikano, Y., Ichiki, Y., Mori, S.: Cutaneous signs (Raynaud’s phenomenon, sclerodactylia, and efladema of the hands) and hand-arm vibration exposure. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ Health. 64(8), 587–591 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Nilsson, T., Burström, L., Hagberg, M.: Risk assessment of vibration exposure and white fingers among platers. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health (1989). doi:10.1007/BF00386482

  34. Pyykkö, I.: Clinical aspects of the hand-arm vibration syndrome: a review. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health 12(5), 439–447 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Safe Work Australia [internet]. Canberra: Workers’ compensation data [updated 2015 January 8]. Available from: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/statistics/workers-compensation-data/pages/wc-data. Accessed 2 Feb 2016

  36. Safe Work Australia [internet]. Canberra: Cost of Work-related Injury and Illness [updated 2015 October 29]. Available from: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/statistics/cost-injury-illness/pages/cost-injury-illness. Accessed 2 Feb 2016

  37. Safe Work Australia. Canberra: Workplace vibration guidance material. [updated 2015 October 1] Available from: http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/swa/about/publications/pages/vibration. Accessed 2 Feb 2016

  38. Saito, K.: Prevention of the hand-arm vibration syndrome. Scand. J. Work Environ. Health (1987). doi:10.5271/sjweh.2036

  39. Seidel, H.: Selected health risks caused by long-term, whole-body vibration. Am. J. Ind. Med. (1993). doi:10.1002/ajim.4700230407

  40. Wasserman, D.E., Taylor, W.: Lessons from hand-arm vibration syndrome research. Am. J. Ind. Med. (1991). doi:10.1002/ajim.4700190411

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Safe Work Australia, Canberra, Australia

    Daniel Arquero & Paul Taylor

Authors
  1. Daniel Arquero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paul Taylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel Arquero.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Arquero, D., Taylor, P. Reducing Exposure to Vibration at Work: Building a Regulatory Policy Intervention from the Ground Up. Acoust Aust 44, 101–106 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40857-016-0047-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40857-016-0047-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation