RESEARCH PAPER
Assessment of annual exposure of private farmers to whole body mechanical vibration on selected family farms of plant production profile.
 
 
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Physical Occupational Hazards, Institute of Agricultural Medicine, Lublin, Poland
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2010;17(2):243-250
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The objective of the study was evaluation of an annual exposure of private farmers to whole body mechanical vibration on selected family farms of plant production profile. The study covered 15 family farms, using arable land of the size of 10-50 ha (22.3 ha on average), engaged mainly in plant production, and equipped with tractors, tractor-mounted agricultural machinery, with a partial contribution of self-propelled machines. The scope of the study covered the carrying out of time schedules of agricultural activities, and measurements of effective values (RMS) for vibration acceleration (equivalent), frequency corrected, on the seats of farm vehicles in 3 spatial directions of vibration (X, Y, Z). The measurements were made while performing various basic field and transport work activities during the period of the whole year. The study showed (plant production) that the degree of whole body mechanical vibration load among farmers during the whole year depends on the vibration level and duration of exposure to this factor. The highest values of the total vibration dose (d) occur both during summer-autumn months (August, September, October and November), and in spring (April, May). The mean equivalent of daily vibration acceleration shows the highest values during 4 months of the year: April and May (0.52 m/s(2)), and in August and September (0.56-0.57 m/s(2)); the average value of this parameter, for the whole year, reaches the level of 0.45 m/s(2). Considering the fact of the occurrence of mechanical shocks in agricultural vehicles (high maximum accelerations values registered: 0.81-1.01 m/s(2); standard exceeding), and exceeding of the daily exposure action value, proper steps should be undertaken with respect to the protection of private farmers against risk resulting from exposure to mechanical vibration while performing work activities.
 
REFERENCES (35)
1.
Barbieri G, Mattioli S, Grillo S, Geminiani AM, Mancini G, Raffi GB: Spinal diseases in an Italian tractor drivers group. Agric Health Safety 1995, 10, 319–323.
 
2.
Belicka-Berling J, Majdecki T, Urbańska A: Zespół bólowy okolicy lędźwiowo-krzyżowej u operatorów spalinowych wózków widłowych typu RAK. Med Komunikacyjna 1988, 1, 13–16.
 
3.
Boshuizen HC, Bongers PM, Hulshof CT: Self-reported back pain in tractor drivers exposed to whole-body vibration. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1990, 62, 109–115.
 
4.
Bovenzi M, Betta A: Low-back disorders in agricultural tractor drivers exposed to whole-body vibration and postural stress. Appl Ergon 1994, 25, 231–241.
 
5.
Bovenzi M, Hulshof CT: An updated review of epidemiologic studies on the relationship between exposure to whole-body vibration and low back pain (1986–1997). Int Arch Occup Environ Health 1999, 72, 351–365.
 
6.
Bovenzi M: Metrics of whole-body vibration and exposure-response relationship for low back pain in professional drivers: a prospective cohort study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2009, 82, 893–917.
 
7.
Directive 2002/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the council of 25 June 2002 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to risks arising from physical agents (vibration) (sixteenth individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC), OJ L 177, 6.07.2002.
 
8.
Fairley TE: Predicting the discomfort caused by tractor vibration. Ergonomics 1995, 38, 209–2106.
 
9.
Futatsuka M, Maeda S, Inaoka T, Nagano M, Shono M, Miyakita T: Whole-body vibration and health effects in the agricultural machinery drivers. Ind Health 1998, 36, 127–132.
 
10.
Goglia V, Gospodaric Z, Filipovic D, Djukic I: Influence on operator’s health of hand-transmitted vibrations from handles of a single-axle tractor. Ann Agric Environ Med 2006, 13, 33–38.
 
11.
Hildebrandt VH: Musculoskeletal symptoms and workload in 12 branches of Dutch agriculture. Ergonomics 1995, 38, 2576–2587.
 
12.
Holmberg S, Thelin A, Stiernström EL, Svärdsudd K: Low back pain comorbidity among male farmers and rural referents: A population-based study. Ann Agric Environ Med 2005, 12, 261–268.
 
13.
Jankowski J, Piotrowski W: Zespół chorobowy traktorzystów. Med Wiejska 1987, 22, 55–67.
 
14.
Jurczak ME: Wpływ wibracji na ustrój. Wydawnictwo Lekarskie PZWL, Warsaw 1974.
 
15.
Kohl U: The dangers incurred by tractor drivers. Arch Malad Profes 1975, 36, 145–162.
 
16.
Manninen P, Riihimaki H, Heliovaara M: Incidence and risk factors of low-back pain in middle-aged farmers. Occup Med 1995, 45, 141–146.
 
17.
Park H, Sprince NL, Whitten PS, Burmeister LF, Zwerling C: Risk factors for back pain among male farmers: analysis of Iowa Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance Study. Am J Ind Med 2001, 40, 646–654.
 
18.
Polska Norma PN-EN 14253/2006: Drgania mechaniczne. Pomiar i obliczanie zawodowej ekspozycji na drgania o ogólnym działaniu na organizm człowieka dla potrzeb ochrony zdrowia. Wytyczne praktyczne. Polski Komitet Normalizacyjny, Warsaw 2006.
 
19.
Rosencrance J, Rodgers G, Merlino L: Low back pain and musculoskeletal symptoms among Kansas farmers. Am J Ind Med 2006, 49, 547–556.
 
20.
Rozporządzenie Ministra Gospodarki i Pracy z dnia 5 sierpnia 2005 r. w sprawie bezpieczeństwa i higieny pracy przy pracach związanych z narażeniem na hałas lub drgania mechaniczne. DzU 2005, N o 157, item 1318.
 
21.
Rozporządzenie Ministra Gospodarki i Pracy z dnia 10 października 2005 r., zmieniające rozporządzenie w sprawie najwyższych dopuszczalnych stężeń i natężeń czynników szkodliwych dla zdrowia w środowisku pracy. DzU 2005, N o 212, item 1769.
 
22.
Sandover J, Gardner L, Stroud P, Robertson N: Some epidemiological issues regarding vibration and tractor driving. Proceedings of the United Kingdon Informal Group Meeting on Human Response to Vibration, 1–21. Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke, Gosport 1994.
 
23.
Solecki L: Wibracja ogólna w pojazdach rolnych – istotny czynnik zagrożenia zdrowia. In: Solecki L (Ed.): Zagrożenia fizyczne w rolnictwie, 57-65. Instytut Medycyny Wsi, Lublin 1999.
 
24.
Solecki L: Evaluation of annual exposure to noise among private farmers on selected family farms of animal production profile. Ann Agric Environ Med 2005, 12, 67–73.
 
25.
Solecki L: Characteristics of annual exposure to noise among private farmers on family farms of mixed-production profile. Ann Agric Environ Med 2006, 13, 113–118.
 
26.
Solecki L: Preliminary recognition of whole body vibration risk in private farmers’ working environment. Ann Agric Environ Med 2007, 14, 299–304.
 
27.
Solecki L, Wasilkowski J, Choina P, Kozieł M: Ocena całorocznej ekspozycji rolników indywidualnych na drgania mechaniczne oddziałujące na całe ciało, w gospodarstwach rodzinnych o różnych kierunkach produkcji [praca naukowa finansowana ze środków na naukę w latach 2007–2010. N o N404 060 32/1811]. Part I. Instytut Medycyny Wsi, Lublin 2007.
 
28.
Sorainen E, Penttinen J, Kallio M, Rytkonen E, Taattola K: Whole-body vibration of tractor drivers during harrowing. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 1998, 59, 642–644.
 
29.
Statistical data analysis: SPSS/PC + 4.0 Base Manual for the IBM-PC/XT/AT and PS/2, SPSS INC. 444N. SPSS Inc., Chicago 1988.
 
30.
Stawczyk W: Odcinek lędźwiowo-krzyżowy kręgosłupa u traktorzystów. Med Wiejska 1983, 18, 209–213.
 
31.
Tiemessen IJ, Hulshof CT, Frings-MH Dresen: Low back pain in drivers exposed to whole body vibration: analysis of a dose-response pattern. Occup Environ Med 2008, 65, 667–675.
 
32.
Torén A, Oberg K, Lembke B, Enlund K, Rask-Andersen A: Tractor-driving hours and their relation to self-reported low-back and hip symptoms. Appl Ergon 2002, 33, 139–146.
 
33.
Walker-Bone K, Palmer KT: Musculoskeletal disorders in farmers and farm workers. Occup Med 2002, 52, 441–450.
 
34.
Waters T, Rauche C, Genaidy A, Rashed T: A new framework for evaluating potential risk of back disorders due to whole body vibration and repeated mechanical shock. Ergonomics 2007, 50, 379–395.
 
35.
Xiang H, Stallones L, Keefe TJ: Back pain and agricultural work among farmers: an analysis of the Colorado Farm Family Health and Haz-ard Surveillance Survey. Am J Ind Med 1999, 35, 310–316.
 
eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top