Friday, August 21, 2009

Whole Body Vibration Exposure to Motorcyle Riders Exceeds Recommended Limits

BrooklynDodger(s): Whole body vibration effects are less well defined than segmental (arm and hand) vibration. But effect many more organ systems. The study reveals that motorcycles pose a risk almost unanimously.


Whole-body vibration exposure experienced by motorcycle riders ­ An evaluation acccording to ISO 2631-1 and ISO 2631-5 standards

Pages 708-718 Hsieh-Ching Chen, Wei-Chyuan Chen, Yung-Ping Liu, Chih-Yong Chen, Yi-Tsong Pan http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=GatewayURL&_method=citationSearch&_urlVersion=4&_origin=SDVIALERTASCII&_version=1&_uoikey=B6V31-4WK49VP-1&md5=199900a63453180501232b5723d0e77c

Whole-body vibration exposure experienced by motorcycle riders – An evaluation according to ISO 2631-1 and ISO 2631-5 standards

Hsieh-Ching Chena, Corresponding Author Contact Information, E-mail The Corresponding Author, Wei-Chyuan Chena, Yung-Ping Liua, Chih-Yong Chenb and Yi-Tsong Panb

aDepartment of Industrial Engineering and Management, Chaoyang University of Technology, No. 168 Jifong E. Rd., Wufong, Taichung County 41349, Taiwan

bInstitute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan, No. 99, Lane 407, Hengke Rd., Sijhih, Taipei County 22143, Taiwan


Received 18 December 2007;
revised 14 March 2009;
accepted 24 May 2009.
Available online 21 June 2009.

Abstract

Riders of twelve motorcycles, comprising 6 full-scale motorbikes and 6 motor-scooters, and 5 sedan vehicles, performed test runs on a 20.6 km paved road composed of 5 km, 5 km, and 10.6 km of rural, provincial and urban routes, respectively. Each test run of motorcycle was separately performed under speed limits of 55 km/h and 40 km/h. Tri-axial accelerations of whole-body vibration (WBV) were obtained by using a seat pad and a portable data logger, and the driver's view was videotaped with a portable media recorder. Root mean square (RMS) acceleration, 8-h estimated vibration dose value (VDV(8)) and 8-h estimated daily dose of static compression dose (Sed) were determined from the collected data in accordance with ISO 2631-1 and ISO 2631-5 standards. Experimental results indicate that the WBV values of the sedan vehicle drivers have low RMS, VDV(8) and Sed values (RMS 0.27–0.32 m/s2; VDV(8) 6.3–8.3 m/s1.75; Sed 0.21–0.26 MPa). However, over 90% of the motorcycle riders had VDV(8) (mean 23.5 m/s1.75) exceeding the upper boundary of health guidance caution zone (17 m/s1.75) recommended by ISO 2631-1, or had Sed (mean 1.17 MPa) exceeding the value associated with a high probability of adverse health effects (0.8 MPa) recommended by ISO 2631-5. Over 50% of the motorcycle riders reached these boundary values for VDV and Se in less than 2 h. The WBV exposure levels of the full-scale motorbikes riders and motor-scooter riders were not significantly different. However, the RMS and VDV(8) values of motorcycle riders indicate significant roadway effect (p <>Sed values indicate significant speed limit effect (p <>