Affiliations: School of Human Kinetics, Laurentian University,
Sudbury, ON, Canda. Kinesiology Department, University of Western Ontario,
London, ON, Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Sylvain Grenier, School of
Human Kinetics, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario,
P3E 2C6, Canada. Tel.: +1 705 675 1151 ext 1095; Fax: +1 705 675 4845; E-mail:
sgrenier@laurentian.ca
Abstract: Background: Laboratory studies have typically been used to establish
a relationship between whole body vibration (WBV) magnitude, frequency,
exposure duration and reported discomfort. However, the relationship between
subjective reports of discomfort, and predicted comfort response according to
International Standards Organization (ISO) 2631-1, predicted health risks
according to ISO 2631-1 and reported musculoskeletal discomfort has not been
examined. The purpose here was to compare discomfort values predicted by ISO
2631-1 with the subjective discomfort reported by nine Load-haul-dump (LHD)
operators during typical operating conditions. Methods: Vibration
exposure at the operator/seat interface was measured and processed, for
one-hour duration, according to criteria established in ISO 2631-1. Vibration
total values were determined for 1-minute exposure periods and the LHD
operators provided a discomfort score associated with the same vibration
exposure period. A linear regression analysis and correlation was carried out
to determine the strength of the relationship between the predicted subjective
reports of discomfort, ISO 2631-1 discomfort, objectively measured acceleration
levels and reported musculoskeletal discomfort. Findings: Reported
discomfort was poorly correlated to ISO discomfort scores (r=0.1799).
Vibration exposure values and Musculo-Skeletal Disorder (MSD) variables were
related to both ISO 2631-1 discomfort and to reported discomfort. The MSD
scores produced stronger relationships with reported discomfort scores than did
the vibration exposure values.
Keywords: Whole-body vibration, discomfort, ISO 2631-1, equipment operators, vibration
