Assessment of the Occupational Effects of Vibrations on the Human Body

Abstract

Vibration is a complex mechanical oscillation of solids that can be transmitted directly to the body. By exposing the body to vibration, tissues begin to move from their natural position. In the work setting, there are basically three types of vibration that are medical significant: whole body vibration, segmental vibration and human resonance. When the body comes directly in contact with mechanical vibration, a direct adverse physiological and physical effect occurs on that body. This type of effects interferes with work efficiency and productivity of labor and, in some situations, can put the workers at risk for injury. In ergonomics, any factor that has the potential to impair the worker’s function may be a significant issue and therefore must be eliminated or reduced to the greatest extent possible. In this context, the paper presents an assessment of the effects that vibrations may have on the human body and find ways to prevent or eliminate them. In order to strengthen theoretical information, a case study is presented.