Vibration

Good vibrations? Not even for people who like them!

Vibrations are felt very differently by different people and, once they reach a certain level of intensity or if exposure is constant, they cause damage. Whole-body vibration, such as that caused by driving a forklift or operating construction machinery, can damage the lumbar vertebrae. Hand-arm vibration, caused by such activities as chiselling, grinding or working with paving breakers, can damage not only joints but also the nerves.

The Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance on Noise and Vibrations (Lärm- und Vibrations-Arbeitsschutzverordnung), introduced in 2007, stipulated limit values for weighted vibration acceleration for the first time. Therefore, these values must be taken into account when conducting risk assessments.

In the Vibration Interactive Facility, participants determine and assess the vibration levels of hand-held machinery. The forklift truck provides them with hands-on experience of whole-body vibration. Thanks to state-of-the-art measurement equipment, the results are available immediately in the seminar.

Facility resources and features

• Four-channel analyser
• Calibrator and various acceleration sensors
• Pneumatic chipping hammers and various hammer drills

Topics covered

• Requirements and implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance on Noise and Vibrations (Lärm- und Vibrations-Arbeitsschutzverordnung)
• Technical requirements for measuring vibrations
• Estimation of exposure to vibration based on information supplied by the manufacturer and databases
• Influence of vibration on humans