Vibration-induced injuries in workers exposed to transient and high frequency vibrations

Gerhardsson, Lars; Ahlstrand, Christina; Ersson, Per; Gustafsson, Ewa

doi:10.1186/s12995-020-00269-w

Cited by 30 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Furthermore, despite the fact that the quarry workers worked outdoors and were exposed to cold as well as to hand-arm vibrations during the winter period, their prevalence of VWF was very low compared to their prevalence of neurosensory findings (40%). The same tendency has been published recently, in a study from a loader assembly plant in Sweden (Gerhardsson et al 2020 ) where the workers had a high exposure to high-frequency vibrations. Thus, several studies indicate that high-frequency vibrations increase the risk for developing neurosensory symptoms and that the nervous system may be more susceptible to exposure to high-frequency vibrations than the vascular system.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…In an on-going Swedish study from a load assembly plant (Gerhardsson et al 2020 ), 38 vibration exposed workers (30 males, 8 females) were studied. The prevalence of VWF was 30% among the male workers and 50% among the females.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A high prevalence of HAVS among workers using impacting or high-speed tools has been observed despite low or very low daily vibration exposure when evaluated according to the current standard (Gerhardsson et al 2020 ). The reason for that is not fully clarified.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vibration related symptoms and signs in quarry and foundry workers

Gerhardsson

Ahlstrand

Ersson

et al. 2021

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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Purpose The development of vascular and neurosensory findings were studied in two groups of long-term exposed quarry and foundry workers with different vibration exposures, working conditions and work tasks. Methods The study included 10 quarry workers (mean age 43 yrs., mean exposure time 16 yrs.) and 15 foundry workers (35 yrs.; 11 yrs.) at two plants in Sweden. All participants completed a basic questionnaire and passed a medical examination including a number of neurosensory tests, e.g. the determination of vibration (VPT) and temperature (TPT) perception thresholds as well as a musculoskeletal examination of the neck, shoulders, arms and hands. Results A high prevalence of neurosensory findings (40%) was found among the quarry workers. Both groups, however, showed a low prevalence of vibration white fingers (VWF). Foundry workers showed significantly better sensitivity than quarry workers for all monofilament tests (p ≤ 0.016), TPT warmth in dig 2 (p = 0.048) and 5 dexter (p = 0.008), and in dig 5 sinister (p = 0.005). They also showed a better VPT performance in dig 5 dexter (p = 0.031). Conclusions Despite high vibration exposure, the prevalence of VWF was low. The high prevalence of neurosensory findings among the quarry workers may depend on higher A(8) vibration exposure and higher exposure to high-frequency vibrations. An age-effect and exposure to cold could also be contributing factors. The nervous system seems to be more susceptible to high-frequency vibrations than the vascular system. For neurosensory injuries, the current ISO 5349-1 standard is not applicable.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Vibration related symptoms and signs in quarry and foundry workers

Gerhardsson

Ahlstrand

Ersson

et al. 2021

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

Self Cite

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“…The pressure inside the cubital tunnel has also been shown to increase during the contraction of the exor carpi ulnaris muscle 26 . Vibration causes vasoconstriction, smooth muscle wall hypertrophy, periarterial brosis, and damage to the endothelial cells 27 . A histological model showed that tissue oedema and vasospasm from vibration leads demyelination and perineural brosis 28 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Work-Related Risk Factors For Ulnar Nerve Entrapment in The Northern Finland Birth Cohort of 1966

Miettinen

Ryhänen

Shiri

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Ulnar nerve entrapment (UNE) is the second most common entrapment neuropathy in the upper extremity. The aetiology of UNE is multifactorial and is still not fully understood. The aim of the study was to identify occupational risk factors for UNE and to determine whether smoking modifies the effects of work-related factors on UNE. The study population consisted of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort of 1966 (NFBC1966). In total, 6325 individuals active in working life participated in a 31-year follow-up study in 1997. Occupational risk factors were evaluated by a questionnaire at baseline in 1997. The data on hospitalizations due to UNE were obtained from the Care Register for Health Care between 1997 and 2018. The incidence rate of hospitalization due to UNE was 47.6 cases per 100 000 person-years. After adjusting for confounders, entrepreneurs (Hazard ratio (HR)=3.68, 95% CI 1.20-11.27), smokers (HR=2.51, 95% CI 1.43-4.41), workers exposed to temperature changes (HR=1.72, 95% CI 1.00-2.93), workers with physically demanding jobs (HR=3.02, 95% CI 1.39-6.58), and workers exposed to hand vibration (HR=1.94, 95% CI 1.00-3.77) were at an increased risk of hospitalization for UNE. Exposure to work requiring arm elevation increased the risk of hospitalization due to UNE among smokers (HR=2.62, 95% CI 1.13-6.07), but not among non-smokers. Work-related exposure to vibration and temperature changes, and physically demanding work increase the risk of hospitalization for UNE. Smoking may potentiate the adverse effects of work-related factors on UNE.

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“…A study that depicts the relationship between vibration amplitude and musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) symptoms in dental hygiene students showed that MSD symptoms might increase abruptly using manual and ultrasonic hand pieces [ 8 ]. The effect of grip force, hand posture, and the accelerometer’s location on hand piece on vibration amplitude were also studied [ 9 ]. Through vibration exposure from a specially designed handle, researchers looked at gender differences in the amount of vibration absorption per unit of time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vibration Exposure and Transmissibility on Dentist’s Anatomy: A Study of Micro Motors and Air-Turbines

Banga

Goel²,

Kumar

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The use of dental hand pieces endanger dentists to vibration exposure as they are subjected to very high amplitude and vibration frequency. This paper has envisaged a comparative analysis of vibration amplitudes and transmissibility during idling and drilling with micro motor (MM) and air-turbine (AT) hand pieces. The study aims to identify the mean difference in vibration amplitudes during idling, explore different grasp forces while drilling with irrigant injection by the dentist, and various vibration transmission of these hand pieces. The study utilized 22 separate frequency resonances on two new and eight used MMs and two new and eight used ATs of different brands by observing the investigator at 16 different dentist clinics. The study adopted a descriptive research design with non–probability sampling techniques for selecting dentists and hand pieces. Statistical methods like Levene Test of Homogeneity, Welch ANOVA, independent t-test, and Games–Howell test were utilized with SPSS version 22 and MS-Excel. The results reveal that vibration amplitudes and vibration transmissibility when measured at position 2 are higher than in another position 1. Vibrations during idling for used MMs are more than AT hand pieces, and the used MM (MUD) and used AT (AUA) hand pieces differ due to their obsolescence and over-usage. Vibration amplitudes increase every time with the tightening of grasping of the hand piece. Vibration amplitudes for each grasping style of MM hand piece differ from all other grasping styles of AT hand pieces. Routine exposure to consistent vibrations has ill physical, mental, and psychological effects on dentists. The used hand pieces more hazardous as compared to newer ones. The study suggests that these hand pieces must be replaced periodically, sufficient to break between two operations, especially after every hand piece usage. Hence, the present research work can be further extended by creating some control groups among dentists and then studying the vibration amplitude exposure of various dental hand pieces and subsequent transmissibility to their body parts.

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Vibration-induced injuries in workers exposed to transient and high frequency vibrations

Cited by 30 publications

References 35 publications

Vibration related symptoms and signs in quarry and foundry workers

Vibration related symptoms and signs in quarry and foundry workers

Work-Related Risk Factors For Ulnar Nerve Entrapment in The Northern Finland Birth Cohort of 1966

Vibration Exposure and Transmissibility on Dentist’s Anatomy: A Study of Micro Motors and Air-Turbines

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