| Abstract |
Because approximately 6.8 million United States workers are exposed to whole-body vibration impinging on the entire body, a vibration field study was made of one of the groups -- heavy equipment operators. A variety of machines (track-type tractors, scrapers, motor graders, loaders, backhoes, compactors, skidders, and dump trucks) were operated by one or two of four operators with differing degrees of experience. Vibration data were obtained from the vehicle floor, man-seat interface, as well as from the operator's knee, shoulder, and head. When these data were analyzed by the vibration spectra that obtained from the different types of machines, it was concluded, in part, that little difference could be attributed to the experience or body mass of the operator; and that most of the higher level vibration occurred below the 4 to 8 Hz 'human-body resonance band', much of it at less than 1 Hz. |
