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Dong RG, Wu JZ, Xu XS, Welcome DE, Krajnak K. A Review of Hand-Arm Vibration Studies Conducted by US NIOSH since 2000. VIBRATION 2021; 4:482-528. [PMID: 34414357 PMCID: PMC8371562 DOI: 10.3390/vibration4020030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Studies on hand-transmitted vibration exposure, biodynamic responses, and biological effects were conducted by researchers at the Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD) of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) during the last 20 years. These studies are systematically reviewed in this report, along with the identification of areas where additional research is needed. The majority of the studies cover the following aspects: (i) the methods and techniques for measuring hand-transmitted vibration exposure; (ii) vibration biodynamics of the hand-arm system and the quantification of vibration exposure; (iii) biological effects of hand-transmitted vibration exposure; (iv) measurements of vibration-induced health effects; (iv) quantification of influencing biomechanical effects; and (v) intervention methods and technologies for controlling hand-transmitted vibration exposure. The major findings of the studies are summarized and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ren G. Dong
- Physical Effects Research Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - John Z. Wu
- Physical Effects Research Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Xueyan S. Xu
- Physical Effects Research Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Daniel E. Welcome
- Physical Effects Research Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Kristine Krajnak
- Physical Effects Research Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
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Johanning E, Stillo M, Landsbergis P. Powered-hand tools and vibration-related disorders in US-railway maintenance-of-way workers. INDUSTRIAL HEALTH 2020; 58:539-553. [PMID: 32863315 PMCID: PMC7708743 DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.2020-0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Maintenance-of-way workers in North America who construct railroad tracks utilize specialized powered-hand tools, which lead to hand-transmitted vibration exposure. In this study, the maintenance-of-way workers were surveyed about neuro-musculoskeletal disorders, powered-hand tools and work practices. Information about vibration emission data of trade specific powered-hand tools for the North American and European Union markets was searched online to obtain respective user information of manufacturer and compared to non-commercial international data banks. The survey showed that maintenance-of-way workers frequently reported typical hand-transmitted vibration-related symptoms, and appear to be at a risk for neuro-musculoskeletal disorders of the upper extremity. Of all of the powered-hand tools used by this trade, 88% of the selected tools exceeded a=5 m/s2 and were above vibration magnitudes of common tools of other comparable industries. This may create a risk if these tools are used throughout an 8-h work day and management of vibration exposure may be needed. In the North-American market, limited or no vibration emission data is available from manufacturers or distributors. Vibration emission information for powered-hand tools, including vibration emission levels (in m/s2), uncertainty factor K, and the applied testing standard/norm may assist employers, users and occupational health providers to better assess, compare and manage risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Stillo
- Downstate School of Public Health, State University of New York (SUNY), USA
| | - Paul Landsbergis
- Downstate School of Public Health, State University of New York (SUNY), USA
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McDowell T, Xu X, Warren C, Welcome D, Dong R. The effects of feed force on rivet bucking bar vibrations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ERGONOMICS 2018; 67:145-158. [PMID: 30792565 PMCID: PMC6379920 DOI: 10.1016/j.ergon.2018.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Percussive riveting is the primary process for attaching the outer sheet metal "skins" of an aircraft to its airframe. Workers using manually-operated riveting tools (riveting hammers and rivet bucking bars) are exposed to significant levels of hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) and are at risk of developing components of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). To protect workers, employers can assess and select riveting tools that produce reduced HTV exposures. Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) have developed a laboratory-based apparatus and methodology to evaluate the vibrations of rivet bucking bars. Using this simulated riveting approach, this study investigated the effects of feed force on the vibrations of several typical rivet bucking bars and that transmitted to the bucking bar operator's wrist. Five bucking bar models were assessed under three levels of feed force. The study results demonstrate that the feed force can be a major influencing factor on bucking bar vibrations. Similar feed force effects were observed at the bucking bar operator's wrist. This study also shows that different bucking bar designs will respond differently to variations in feed force. Some bucking bar designs may offer reduced vibration exposures to the bar operator's fingers while providing little attenuation of wrist acceleration. Knowledge of how rivet bucking bar models respond to riveting hammer vibrations can be important for making informed bucking bar selections. The study results indicate that, to help in the appropriate selection of bucking bars, candidate bar models should be evaluated at multiple feed force levels. The results also indicate that the bucking bar model, feed force level, or the bucking bar operator have no meaningful effects on the vibration excitation (riveting hammer), which further suggests that the test apparatus proposed by NIOSH researchers meets the basic requirements for a stable vibration source in laboratory-based bucking bar vibration assessments. This study provides relevant information that can be used to help develop a standardized laboratory-based bucking bar evaluation methodology and to help in the selection of appropriate bucking bars for various workplace riveting applications. RELEVANCE TO INDUSTRY Because the feed force level can affect HTV exposures to bucking bar operators, the feed force required for specific riveting operations should be an important consideration when selecting bucking bar models. This study provides useful information about bucking bar responses to riveting hammer vibrations; this knowledge can improve bucking bar selections.
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Affiliation(s)
- T.W. McDowell
- Corresponding author. CDC/NIOSH/HELD, 1095 Willowdale Road, MS 2027, Morgantown, WV, 26505, USA. (T.W. McDowell)
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Chen Q, Lin H, Xiao B, Welcome DE, Lee J, Chen G, Tang S, Zhang D, Xu G, Yan M, Yan H, Xu X, Qu H, Dong RG. Vibration characteristics of golf club heads in their handheld grinding process and potential approaches for reducing the vibration exposure. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ERGONOMICS 2017; 62:27-41. [PMID: 30514986 PMCID: PMC6275093 DOI: 10.1016/j.ergon.2016.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED To control vibration-induced white finger among workers performing the fine grinding of golf club heads, the aims of this study are to clarify the major vibration sources in the grinding process, to identify and understand the basic characteristics of the club head vibration, and to propose potential approaches for reducing the vibration exposure. The vibrations on two typical club heads and two belt grinding machines were measured at a workplace. A simulated test station was also constructed and used to help examine some influencing factors of the club head vibration. This study found that the club head vibration was the combination of the vibration transmitted from the grinding machines and that generated in the grinding process. As a result, any factor that affects the machine vibration, the grinding vibration, and/or the dynamic response of the club head can influence the vibration exposure of the fingers or hands holding the club head in the grinding process. The significant influencing factors identified in the study include testing subject, grinding machine, machine operation speed, drive wheel condition, club head model, mechanical constraints imposed on the club head during the grinding, and machine foot pad. These findings suggest that the vibration exposure can be controlled by reducing the grinding machine vibration, changing the workpiece dynamic properties, and mitigating the vibration transmission in its pathway. Many potential methods for the control are proposed and discussed. RELEVANCE TO INDUSTRY Vibrations on handheld workpieces can be effectively transmitted to the hands, especially the fingers. As a result, a major component of the hand-arm vibration syndrome - vibration-induced white finger - has been observed among some workers performing the grinding and/or polishing tasks of the handheld workpieces such as golf club heads. The results of this study can be used to develop more effective methods and technologies to control the vibration exposure of these workers. This may help effectively control this occupational disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingsong Chen
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hansheng Lin
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Bin Xiao
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Daniel E. Welcome
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, Wv, USA
| | - Jacob Lee
- Advanced Sporting Goods Co., LTV., Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Guiping Chen
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shichuan Tang
- Key Laboratory of Occupational Health and Safety, Beijing Municipal Institute of Labor Protection, Beijing, China
| | - Danying Zhang
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guoyong Xu
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Maosheng Yan
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hua Yan
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xueyan Xu
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, Wv, USA
| | - Hongying Qu
- Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ren G. Dong
- Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, Wv, USA
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Welcome DE, Dong RG, Xu XS, Warren C, McDowell TW. Tool-specific performance of vibration-reducing gloves for attenuating fingers-transmitted vibration. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 13:23-44. [PMID: 27867313 PMCID: PMC5113028 DOI: 10.3233/oer-160235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fingers-transmitted vibration can cause vibration-induced white finger. The effectiveness of vibration-reducing (VR) gloves for reducing hand transmitted vibration to the fingers has not been sufficiently examined. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to examine tool-specific performance of VR gloves for reducing finger-transmitted vibrations in three orthogonal directions (3D) from powered hand tools. METHODS A transfer function method was used to estimate the tool-specific effectiveness of four typical VR gloves. The transfer functions of the VR glove fingers in three directions were either measured in this study or during a previous study using a 3D laser vibrometer. More than seventy vibration spectra of various tools or machines were used in the estimations. RESULTS When assessed based on frequency-weighted acceleration, the gloves provided little vibration reduction. In some cases, the gloves amplified the vibration by more than 10%, especially the neoprene glove. However, the neoprene glove did the best when the assessment was based on unweighted acceleration. The neoprene glove was able to reduce the vibration by 10% or more of the unweighted vibration for 27 out of the 79 tools. If the dominant vibration of a tool handle or workpiece was in the shear direction relative to the fingers, as observed in the operation of needle scalers, hammer chisels, and bucking bars, the gloves did not reduce the vibration but increased it. CONCLUSIONS This study confirmed that the effectiveness for reducing vibration varied with the gloves and the vibration reduction of each glove depended on tool, vibration direction to the fingers, and finger location. VR gloves, including certified anti-vibration gloves do not provide much vibration reduction when judged based on frequency-weighted acceleration. However, some of the VR gloves can provide more than 10% reduction of the unweighted vibration for some tools or workpieces. Tools and gloves can be matched for better effectiveness for protecting the fingers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Welcome
- Engineering & Control Technology Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Ren G Dong
- Engineering & Control Technology Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Xueyan S Xu
- Engineering & Control Technology Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Christopher Warren
- Engineering & Control Technology Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Thomas W McDowell
- Engineering & Control Technology Branch, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV, USA
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