Baseline measurement and analysis of hand-arm transmitted vibration of an ergonomically designed two-wheel tractor

Issue Date

6-2015

Abstract

This study provided baseline information of vibratory characteristics observed in the use of hand tractors in the Philippines. Potential exposure intensity of vibration to the farmers and operators was computed and compared with the maximum permissible exposure limits suggested by the International Organization for Standards (ISO). An experiment was also designed to assess the vibration transmitted to hand-arm system of tractor operators using an ergonomically designed two-wheel tractor under actual field conditions. Vibrations were measured during plowing and harrowing performed on clay loam soil by using accelerometers mounted on the metacarpal, olecranon, and acromion of human test subjects as well as on the tractor engine. Average resultant vibration during plowing measured at the engine, metacarpal, olecranon and acromion were 21.74, 17.02, 14.67 and 11.17 m s-2, respectively. The corresponding values for harrowing were 19.46, 16.15, 13.56 and 10.50 m s-2, respectively. Significant differences in vibration between axes and locations were observed with vibration highest at the x-axis for all locations. Results also indicated that 10% of the workers could develop vibration-induced white finger syndrome after 1.58 and 1.67 yr of plowing and harrowing, respectively, at a daily exposure period of 8 h.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Agricultural Scientist

ISSN

0031-7454

Volume

98

Issue

2

Page

166-173

Document Type

Article

Physical Description

illustrations, tables, graphs

Language

English

Subject

Ergonomically designed two-wheel tractor, Hand-arm vibration syndrome, Latency period of white finger, Resultant vibration, Vibration exposure duration, Vibration transmissibility

Digital Copy

yes

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