Whole body vibration exposure patterns in Canadian prairie farmers

• Published in: Ergonomics Vol. 60; no. 8; pp. 1064 - 1073
• Main Authors: Zeng, Xiaoke, Kociolek, Aaron M., Khan, Muhammad Idrees, Milosavljevic, Stephan, Bath, Brenna, Trask, Catherine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03.08.2017; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Accelerometers; Accelerometry; Adult; Agricultural equipment; Agricultural resources; Agricultural Workers' Diseases - etiology; Agriculture; All terrain vehicles; back pain; Canada; Exposure; Farmers; Farming; Farmworkers; Grain; Grassland; Health risks; Humans; Insurance claims; Low back pain; machinery; Machinery and equipment; Male; Mechanical shock; Middle Aged; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Pickup trucks; Prairies; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Rubber; Saskatchewan; Space life sciences; Sprayers; Task Performance and Analysis; Tractors; Vibration; Agriculture; mechanical shock; back pain; occupational exposure; machinery
• ISSN: 0014-0139; 1366-5847
• DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2016.1252859

Whole body vibration is a significant physical risk factor associated with low back pain. This study assessed farmers' exposure to whole body vibration on the Canadian prairies according to ISO 2631-1. Eighty-seven vibration measurements were collected with a triaxial accelerometer embedded in a rubber seat pad at the operator-seat interface of agricultural machinery, including tractors, combines, pickup trucks, grain trucks, sprayers, swathers, all-terrain vehicles, and skid steers. Whole body vibration was highest in the vertical axis, with a mean (range) frequency-weighted root mean squared acceleration of 0.43 m/s 2 (0.19−1.06 m/s 2 ). Mean crest factors exceeded 9 in all 3 axes, indicating high mechanical shock content. The vertical axis vibration dose value was 7.55 m/s 1.75 (2.18−37.59 m/s 1.75 ), with 41.4% of measurements within or above the health guidance caution zone. These high exposures in addition to an ageing agricultural workforce may increase health risks even further, particularly for the low back. Practitioner Summary: Agricultural workers are frequently exposed to whole body vibration while operating farm equipment, presenting a substantial risk to musculoskeletal health including the low back. Assessing vibration exposure is critical in promoting a safe occupational environment, and may inform interventions to reduce farmer's exposure to vibration.