Effect of Chain Saw on Hand Arm and Whole Body Vibration in Selected Species of Timber

Abstract

Experimental data collected over the years, for defining limits of vibration exposure to human beings, have resulted in a set of vibration criteria specified in ISO Standard 2631. In this article, instrumentation requirements for evaluation of the responses of humans to vibration according to these criteria are described, as well as some of the pitfalls to be avoided during these measures. The operators’ exposure to hand-arm as well as whole body transmitted vibration at Terry-Man Saw mill was tested on different kinds of wood. Using a vibrometer levels obtained by measurements for related activities and their average durations during working day, the daily vibration exposure A(8) (expressed in terms of 8-hour energy-equivalent frequency-weighted) and vibration total value was calculated in accordance with ISO 5349-1. The A(8) values obtained were compared with the limit values set for the workers’ exposure to hand-arm transmitted vibration at 2.5 m/s2 (action value). The comparison clearly shows that the work at Terry-man saw mill can be classified as dangerous as a result of exposure to vibration.