The impact of mechanical vibrations is much greater than it might seem at first glance. Their negative impact on the human body can cause numerous diseases. The negative effects of vibrations on the human body depend largely on the place where the vibrations enter the body, therefore they are divided into local vibrations and general vibrations:

• local vibrations are mechanical vibrations at the workplace acting on the human body and transmitted directly by the upper limbs,
• general vibrations are mechanical vibrations at the workplace with a general effect on the human body, transmitted to the body as a whole through the feet or parts of the torso, mainly the pelvis or back.

Exposure to local mechanical vibrations affecting the human body through the upper limbs primarily concerns operators of hand-held vibrating tools used in: the machinery industry, the steel industry, the shipbuilding industry, the processing industry, stonemasonry, forestry, agriculture, mining and construction.

In terms of general mechanical vibrations, exposure mainly concerns employees employed in the following positions: drivers, tram drivers, train drivers, construction machinery operators, road machinery operators, mining machinery operators, as well as employees using stationary machines in a standing position and devices used in work rooms.

Negative health effects affecting the human body through local mechanical vibrations are mainly pathological changes in the vascular, nervous and osteoarticular systems.

However, the negative impact on the human body through the influence of general mechanical vibrations concerns the skeletal and joint system and internal organs.

Vibration protection mainly includes:

• automation of technological processes and remote control of vibration sources;
• the use of elements, materials, isolating and vibration-damping systems, including cushioned seats, anti-vibration handles and gloves;
• designing places and workstations in a way that ensures isolation from vibration sources and limits the parallel impact of many of their sources;
• maintenance of: buildings, means of work, insulating and damping systems and devices;
• reducing the time and level of exposure of workers to vibrations;
• reducing the number of exposed people by using job rotation, shortened working hours and breaks at work.
• In order to protect employees working on works causing local mechanical vibrations, personal protective equipment, namely anti-vibration gloves, should be used.

Source:https://bezpieczenstwo-bhp.pl/blog/blog-o-bezpieczenstwa-bhp/wplyw-wibracji-na-zdrowie-pracownika

Supported by Norway through Norway Grants 2014-2021, in the frame of the Programme “Social Dialogue – Decent Work”.