Occupational vibration syndrome Exposure, standards, surveillance

1
Occupational vibration syndromeExposure,
standards, surveillance

• Department of Occupational Medicine
• Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

Markku Sainio Markku Vanhanen
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Occupational vibration

• Periodic motion of a body in alternate opposite
  directions from a position of rest
• Mathematical "vector quantity" described by both
  a direction and a magnitude
• directions of vibration
• acceleration
• Present in most work settings where mechanical
  equipment is used

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Measurements and standards

• ACGIH TLVs 1984
• 4 m/s2 lt 8 hours a day
• 6 m/s2 lt 6 hours a day
• 8 m/s2 lt 2 hours a day
• 12 m/s2 lt 1 hour a day
• ISO 5349 (1986)
• Standard for measurements over frequencies from 5
  to 1500 Hz
• Mitä laatua käytetään, millaiset tasot aih
  tautia, impact vibration (high impulsiveness)
  important!

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• Dose-response curves and threshold limits are not
  applicable to all tools
• are derived from chain-saw data
• do not take into account impulsiveness and high
  frequency of many tools

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• Directive 2002/44/EC
• .. on the minimum health and safety requirements
  regarding the exposure of workers to the risks
  arising from physical agents (vibration)...
• daily (8 h) exp. limit value 5 m/s2
• daily exp. action limit value 2,5 m/s2

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Prevalence of white finger symptoms

• In Finnish forest workers
• 40 in 1972
• 7 in 1980

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HAV as occupational disease in Finland 1990-2002

• ROD FIOH
• 2001-2002 34 16
• 1999-2000 32 16
• 1997-98 38 17
• 1995-96 37 7
• 1993-94 44 18
• 1990-92 (3 yrs) 92 37

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Occupations (FIOH 1990-2002)

• Chain saw work 22
• Construction worker 17
• Miners drillers 15
• Machine work,-repair, tool makers 10
• Welders 6

• Pipework 4
• Railroad or road work 4
• Stonework 3
• 1-2 dental technician, teacher, painter,
  manufacture of diff. devices, plastics worker
  etc.

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Exposure

• Vibration level, acceleration, frequency,
  impulses
• Duration, continuity
• Radiation of the vibration (tool weight, grip
  strength, hand position, exposure area)
• Temperature
• Clothing

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Exposure

• Vibration level of a tool may be difficult to
  estimate without proper measurements
• Duties to the manufacturers of tools and to
  employers on informing and measuring the levels
• and on employee protection and information

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Health surveillance

• Periodic health examinations in occupational
  health units
• at 1-3 year intervals, depending on vibration
  levels and duration
• Symptoms
• Clinical examination
• If symptoms, referral to FIOH, for example

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Prevention

• Decrease exposure to minimum
• technical improvements of tools
• minimum exposure time
• clothing, gloves, temperature, pauses etc.
• Maintenance of knowledge on vibration levels of
  tools in use, especially new ones
• Stop smoking
• Periodic health examinations

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Prevention

• Decrease exposure to minimum
• technical improvements of tools
• minimum exposure time
• gloves etc.
• Maintenance of knowledge on vibration levels of
  new tools taken into use
• Temperature
• Stop smoking
• Periodic health examinations