The Japan Society for Occupational Health (JSOH) recommends the Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs) as reference values for preventing adverse health effects on workers caused by occupational exposure to chemical substances, continuous or intermittent noise, impulsive or impact noise, heat stress, cold stress, whole-body vibration, hand-arm vibration and time-varying electric, magnetic and elec...

This study reports results of an investigation into the short-term effects of power hand tool vibration on deep sense tactile sensitivity. Five subjects operated a simulated hand tool using a 30 s / 30 s work~rest duty cycle. The handle vibrated at 1S0 5349 weighted acceleration of 8 m / s 2, for frequencies of 20 Hz, 80 Hz, and 160 Hz, in three orthognal directions. A no-vibration condition wa...

OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible increase in hand tremor in relation to hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure in a cohort of exposed and unexposed workers. METHODS Participants were 178 male workers with or without exposure to HAV. The study is cross-sectional regarding the outcome of tremor and has a longitudinal design with respect to exposure. The dose of...

BACKGROUND Measurements of exposure to vibrations from hand-held tools are often conducted on a single occasion. However, repeated measurements may be crucial for estimating the actual dose with good precision. In addition, knowledge of determinants of exposure could be used to improve working conditions. The aim of this study was to assess hand-arm vibration (HAV) exposure during different gri...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the relationship between subjective symptoms of coldness in fingers and peripheral circulation in patients with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). METHODS Thirty-five male patients confirmed to have HAVS as an occupational disease took part in this study. Their mean age was 62 years (SD 5) and all were chain-saw operators exposed to vibration for an average of 25 years...

Vibration injury to the hands was first reported in 1911 in workers using compressed air tools [1]. Since then, mechanization has become more widespread, with a corresponding rise in the incidence of vibration injuries. Employers, legislators, machinery and tool manufacturers, and physicians in general have all been slow to recognize and effectively address the problem. Fortunately, some tool m...

Since vibration white finger (VWF) became a prescribed industrial disease in 1985, objective testing for the diagnosis and grading of the severity of the condition has become desirable. Measurements have been made of finger blood flow and finger systolic pressure before and after cold challenge in 22 healthy control subjects and 34 men presenting for medical examination in connection with compe...

AIMS To assess the occurrence of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) in Swedish car mechanics, and the relation between HAVS and duration of exposure. METHODS A total of 806 mechanics answered a questionnaire on vascular and neurological symptoms, and exposure to vibrations. Mechanics with symptoms, and some mechanics without symptoms, were invited to a clinical examination, including also a t...

BACKGROUND Assessing past cumulative vibration exposure is part of assessing the risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) in workers exposed to hand-arm vibration and invariably forms part of a medical assessment of such workers. AIMS To investigate the strength of relationships between the presence and severity of HAVS and different cumulative exposure metrics obtained from a self-reportin...

OBJECTIVES To survey the prevalence and severity of hand-arm vibration syndrome symptoms (HAVS), and to estimate past and current exposure to hand held vibrating tools in a sample of gas distribution operatives breaking and re-instating road surfaces. METHODS 153 gas distribution operatives (participation rate 81%) from three company districts were assessed by an administered questionnaire, a...