Research Network on Detection and Prevention of
Injuries due to Occupational Vibration Exposures
EC Biomed II project no. BMH4-CT98-3251
April 1988 to March 2001

Participants

  1. Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton, U.K.
  2. Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Germany
  3. Coronel Institute, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  4. Unité Hygiéne et Physiologie du Travail, Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium
  5. Institut National de Recherché et de Securité, France
  6. National Institute for Prevention and Safety at the Workplace, Italy
  7. National Institute for Working Life, Sweden
  8. Studium of Mechanics, University of Patras, Greece
  9. Institute of Occupational Medicine, University of Trieste, Italy

    Group photo of partners (in Brussel, March 2001)

Abstract

The main objective of the Vibration Injury Network was to advance methods for the detection and prevention of injury due to vibration exposures at work. This is being achieved through:

1. Development of common methods for health surveillance, including the development of improved methods for the detection and diagnosis of disorders.

Standardised guides and questionnaires have been prepared for the surveillance of workers exposed to either hand-transmitted vibration or whole-body vibration. Test methods used in different laboratories to detect sensorineural symptoms of the hand-arm vibration syndrome have been compared. This assists cross-calibration of data from different instruments so as to facilitate standardisation across Europe. An international workshop was held to exchange information on the diagnosis of disorders from hand-transmitted vibration.
2. Establishment of dose-response relationships between vibration exposures and injury, through collaborative epidemiological research.
Protocols have been developed for multi-national epidemiological studies of injuries caused by exposure to hand-transmitted vibration and whole-body vibration as a foundation for future epidemiological work. Computerised databases have been developed to store data from common epidemiological studies that are being planned.
3. Investigation of the interaction between vibration and other environmental, ergonomic and individual factors, through collaborative laboratory experiments.
Collaborative experimental studies were performed on the acute effects of hand-transmitted vibration on the peripheral neurological and vascular systems with the aim of recommending improvements to the methods for evaluating hand-transmitted vibration exposures adopted in International Standard ISO 5349 and the European Standard ENV 25349.

An international workshop on modelling of biodynamic responses of the spine was organised to exchange information on current models, experimental data for the verification of models, and their application. Databases have been established for the sharing of experimental results.

4. Improvement of methods for preventing disorders, including consideration of current standard methods for hazard surveillance and for testing the protection provided by gloves and seats.
Two databases containing vibration data measured on hand-tools and off-road vehicles have been extended and made available on the Internet in the English language. These provide a resource for the estimation of vibration exposures of workers, and for reducing exposures by the selection of tools with lower vibration magnitudes.
Two informative booklets are being published for employers of workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration and whole-body vibration. These documents are based on guidelines provided by the network partners, and are intended to provide information appropriate for most European countries.
5. International Conferences were organised on Hand-Arm Vibration in 1998 (Umea, Sweden) and Whole-body Vibration in 2000 (Siena, Italy).
 

To view PDF files you need to install Acrobat Reader, which is available free from Adobe inc.Summary Report

Part A of final report to the EC
To view PDF files you need to install Acrobat Reader, which is available free from Adobe inc.Detailed Report
Part B of final report to the EC
To view PDF files you need to install Acrobat Reader, which is available free from Adobe inc.Appendices: Hand-Transmitted Vibration
 
Appendix H1. Reports and deliverables from work package 1H
H1A Guidelines for Hand-Transmitted Vibration Health Surveillance
H1B Italian translation of the hand-transmitted vibration health surveillance questionnaires
H1C Greek translation of the hand-transmitted vibration health surveillance questionnaires
H1D Description of the electronic version of the health-surveillance questionnaire
H1E Normative vibrotactile thresholds measured at four European test centres
H1F Normative thermal thresholds measured at three European test centres
H1G Comparison of vibrotactile and thermal thresholds with two different measurement systems
Appendix H2. Reports and deliverables from work package 2H
H2A Protocol of epidemiological studies on vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal disorders or complaints associated with hand-arm vibration
H2B A unique national survey of exposure to hand-transmitted and whole-body vibration in working-aged men and women
H2C Re-analysis of three previously published studies of VWF to investigate relationships between finger blanching and characteristics of exposures to hand-transmitted vibration
Appendix H3. Reports and deliverables from work package 3H
H3A Design for a multi-centre experimental study of the acute effects of hand-transmitted vibration on the neurological and vascular systems
H3B Review of experimental studies of the biodynamic properties of the hand and arm
H3C Design for a multi-centre experimental study of the power absorbed as a consequence of hand-transmitted vibration
H3D Guidelines for conducting laboratory measurements of the power absorbed by the hand and arm
H3E Neurological and functional effects of short term exposure to hand-arm vibration
H3F Frequency and magnitude functional dependence of absorbed power resulting from vibration transmitted to the hand and arm
H3G Experimental study of the acute vascular response to the frequency of vibration transmitted to the hand
H3H Experimental study of the response of finger circulation to energy equivalent combinations of magnitude and duration of vibration
Appendix H4. Reports and deliverables from work package 4H
H4A Evaluation of occupational exposures to hand-transmitted vibration - frequency weighting and exposure duration (a preliminary survey)
H4B Centralised European Hand-arm database on the Internet
H4C Protection effectiveness of anti-vibration gloves: field evaluation and laboratory performance assessment
H4D The hand in danger: an informative leaflet for employers

To view PDF files you need to install Acrobat Reader, which is available free from Adobe inc.Appendices: Whole_Body Vibration
 
Appendix W1. Reports and deliverables from work package 1W
W1A Guidelines and questionnaires for whole-body vibration health surveillance
W1B Italian translations of whole-body vibration health surveillance questionnaires
W1C Greek translations of whole-body vibration health surveillance questionnaires
W1D French translations of whole-body vibration health surveillance questionnaires
W1E Guidelines for whole-body vibration health surveillance (paper to Siena conference)
Appendix W2. Reports and deliverables from work package 2W
W2A Protocol for a multicentre epidemiological (intervention) study to determine relationships between whole-body vibration (WBV) and health effects
W2B Development of a questionnaire for epidemiological studies of whole-body vibration
W2C Protocol for the translation of WBV and HAV questionnaires into different European languages
Appendix W3. Reports and deliverables from work package 3W
W3A Design of a multi-centre experimental study to determine how whole-body vibration and shock, and other ergonomic and individual factors, interact to hazard the spinal system
W3B Report on ISPESL – NIWL joint experimental studies on whole-body vibration
W3C Design of a data base to collect existing data of human experiments and experimental data to be stored in the common data base
W3D Review of modelling studies of the response of the spinal system to WBV and repeated shock, and recommendations for the direction of future modelling work
W3E Development and analysis of a FE model L5/S1 disk using a loading model simulating WBV
W3F Development and analysis of a FE model for the group L5, S1 vertebrae and the in-between disk, using a loading model simulating whole-body vibration
Appendix W4. Reports and deliverables from work package 4W
W4A Review of methods for evaluating human exposure to whole-body vibration
W4B Centralized European Whole-body Vibration database on the Internet
W4C A comparison of two methods for simulating the dynamic response of suspension seating
W4D The Spine in Danger: an informative leaflet for employers

To view PDF files you need to install Acrobat Reader, which is available free from Adobe inc.Appendices: Dissemination
 
Appendix X5. Reports and deliverables from work package 5
X5A International Workshop “Modelling of Spinal Loads Associated with Vibration and Shock - State of the Art, Critical Assessment, Application, and Research Needs”, Berlin, Germany, 19-20 October 1999
X5B International Workshop “Diagnosis of injuries caused by hand-transmitted vibration”, Southampton, U.K., 11-13 September 2000
X5C Second International Conference on Whole-body Vibration Injuries, Siena, Italy, 7–9 November 2000

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