A Design of Experiments for Statistically Predicting Risk of Adverse Health Effects on Drivers Exposed to Vertical Vibrations

• Published in: International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics Vol. 17; no. 3; pp. 221 - 232
• Main Authors: Ayari, Houcine, Thomas, Marc, Doré, Sylvie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.01.2011
• Subjects: adverse health effect; Age Factors; Bone Density; Design; design of experiments; Humans; inite-element analysis ageing; Lumbar Vertebrae - injuries; Models, Biological; Occupational Diseases - etiology; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Posture; Research Design; Risk Assessment; spinal loading; Vibration - adverse effects; whole-body vibration
• ISSN: 1080-3548; 2376-9130
• DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2011.11076888

An injury risk factor (IRF), which indicates the risk of adverse health effect to lumbar rachis arising from mechanical vibrations, is developed. Experiments have been conducted that consider acceleration levels at the seat of drivers, posture, morphology, density, damping rate and body mass as independent variables. A parametric finite-element model of the lumbar rachis has been generated. It is shown that the IRF increases with ageing and an IRF of 30% is proposed as a threshold for fatigue purposes. This level is reached if a peak acceleration level greater than 3 m/s 2 is applied to a light (55 kg) and an old driver with a low bone density and a damping rate of 20%. This vibration threshold must be reduced to 2.7 m/s 2 if the driver's weight increases to 75 kg and to 2 m/s 2 if the driver is heavy (98 kg).