Effects of Whole Body Vibration on Equipment Operators
Research skills
Prof. Hanson
Outline and Thesis

Whole Body Vibration in Heavy Equipment
Thesis: People need to know how it affects the operator, how it really limits them physically to the activities they are capable of later in life, and if more testing was to be done it could reduce the stats of these illnesses and create a better work environment for these workers.

I. Effects of whole Body Vibration on the Operator a. Musculoskeletal Disorders b. Postural Stress c. Pain and discomfort i. Creates lifelong health problems II. Why there needs to be more testing d. Reduce the lifelong effects to the operators e. Create machines with less vibration on the operator f. Decrease absenteeism of operators ii. This could help the operator live a more stress free life without limitations. lll. How the effects limit the operator to what he/she can do later in life a. Causes mobility issues b. Inability to do household chores such as cleaning and lawn work c. Causes them discomfort
1. These all lead to doctor appointments and debt in doctor bills.

Effects of Whole Body Vibration in
Heavy Equipment

Musculoskeletal Disorders are a major cause of work-related disability and lost time illnesses for many occupational groups, construction being one of the main groups.(source 1) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction industry leads all other industrial divisions in the number of nonfatal injuries or illnesses.(source 3) In 1994 the U.S. Bureau of Labor also estimated that more than 218,000 lost-time injuries, requiring missed work or restricted work, occurred in the construction industry and in some cases these injuries have been reported to last a considerable amount of time.(source 3) In construction there are many jobs that cause musculoskeletal disorders. Equipment Operators in the construction field experience more of the effects due to vibrations they encounter every day for extended amounts of time. These vibrations are a major cause of the musculoskeletal disorders and postural stress among these workers. People need to know the facts and consequences that go along with whole body vibration faced by equipment operators. They need to know how it affects the operator, how it really limits them physically in the long term. More testing could reduce the stats of these illnesses and create a better work environment for these workers. Previous studies indicate that operators of heavy construction equipment are afflicted by musculoskeletal injuries of the arms, shoulders, neck, and lower back.(source 2) These injuries appear to be due to excessive periods of sitting (static posture), work intensity, whole body vibration, high resistance levers, repetitive motions, and awkward postures.(source 2) Equipment operators deal with whole body vibration every day for long periods of time. After a few years of running this equipment the aches and pains that result from this work start to appear. The University of Iowa conducted a test where construction workers were recruited from four trade unions (sheet metal workers, plumbers, electricians, operating engineers) in four states (Iowa, Oregon, Illinois, and Washington). These apprentices actively work in the trade while simultaneously undergoing specialized instruction in conjunction with a union training program. The training program usually consists of 80 hours per year of classroom or shop work as well as on-site instruction. The training lasts from four to five years, depending on the trade, resulting in journeyman certification. The results of this study were that almost 1 in 6 apprentices (16.8%) reported seeing a physician for lower back symptoms, and 7.3 percent missed work due to lower back symptoms during the previous year. After lower back symptoms, construction apprentices were more likely to miss work due to wrist/hand symptoms (3.4%) and upper back symptoms (2.8%). As a percentage of only those who experienced MSD symptoms at specific sites they were most likely to see a physician for upper back symptoms (34.9%), neck symptoms (31.2%), and low back symptoms (30.8%).(source 1) As you can see from this testing done the results are not very good. Musculoskeletal Disorders are caused by simple things in life but can also be caused by whole body vibration and postural stress in equipment operations.