Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 25, 2025
Measurement of the Hand Transmitted Vibration of the Human Hand Arm System During Operation of a Hand Tractor
Published on: June 16, 2021
Laboratory evaluation of occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV) during grounds maintenance equipment
Jonghwa Oh1, Nathan Chen1, Charles Boyd2
1University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, United States.
Introduction And Objective:
About 2.5 million workers in the USA are exposed to hand-arm vibration (HAV) from power tools. The aims of the study were to evaluate occupational exposure to HAV during grounds maintenance equipment operations and the effect of general work gloves on vibration magnitude under controlled laboratory conditions.
Material And Methods:
A simulation of grass trimmer, backpack blower, and chainsaw operations was conducted by two participants to measure vibration total value (ahv) using vibration dosimeters wearing gloves. ahv was also measured on the bare hands during grass trimmer and backpack blower operations.
Results:
ahv of the gloved hand was 3.5-5.8, 1.1-2.0, and 3.0-3.6 m/s2 during the grass trimmer, backpack blower, and chainsaw operations, respectively. ahv of the bare hand was 4.5-7.2 and 1.2-2.3 m/s2 for the grass trimmer and blower operations, respectively.
Conclusions:
The highest HAV exposure was observed during the grass trimmer operation which showed higher vibration attenuation of the gloves.
