The prevalence of hand arm vibration syndrome among automobile assembly workers
- Author:
Nor MaizuraYusoff
;
Anita Abd Rahman
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
automobile assembly workers, impact wrench, vibrating tool, hand-arm vibration syndrome,
- From:Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine
2016;16(Supplement 2):128-136
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence of hand-arm vibration (HAVS) among the automobile
assembly workers and the associated risks. A cross sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of
HAVS and also ascertain the association between HAVS and reduction in VPT among workers using vibration hand held
tool in automobile industry. Aim of this study was to determine the prevalence Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome
(HAVS) among vibrating hand held tool exposed workers. A cross sectional study design using structured
questionnaire and invasive measurement of vibrotactile perception threshold (VPT) at the fingertips was conducted
in one of the automobile company in Klang Valley. All the respondents were hand arm vibration exposed workers. A
total 109 assembly line workers with at least one year job tenure participated in this study. The finding revealed
that 27.5% of workers reported HAVS through questionnaire. This study consisted of 109 respondents. All of them
were male. The mean age was 32.9 years. The mean daily vibration exposure for 8-hours was 1.41m/s2. There was
11% of the tools measured were above the Action Level recommended by European Union Directive 2002. The overall
prevalence of HAVS based on reported symptom through questionnaire was 27.5%. None of the respondent reported
any whiteness at their fingers due to exposure to vibration. However, 36.7% of the respondent reported tingling
sensation and 57.8 % reported the feeling of numbness in their hands. Only 10.1% claim that the pain was
persistence. Since this study was done among exposed workers without control group, the thresholds were measured
by comparing the observed VPT with the VPT of healthy population provided by ISO 13091-2. The result showed that
98.2% of the respondent in this study having positive threshold which indicate the percentage of respondent that
having deterioration in finger tactile perception. The positive threshold from comparison above showed that the
respondent of this study was affected with the vibration exposure. The value proven that the exposure has caused
the deterioration of tactile sensitivity in 98.2% of respondent in this study which showed by having positive threshold
compared to healthy population. The result also showed that there was a significant correlation between daily
vibration exposure A (8) and VPT at both frequency tested which was 31.5Hz (r = 0.417, p = 0.002) and 125Hz (r =
0.480, p = 0.001). Even though the mean daily vibration exposure for 8-hours was low and below the recommended
level, the workers still exposed to the effect of hand arm vibration
- Full text:P020170126549576037708.pdf
