title: Factors affecting the perception of whole-body vibration of occupational drivers: an analysis of posture and manual materials handling and musculoskeletal disorders.
abstract: Due to the high cost of conducting field measurements, questionnaires are usually preferred for the assessment of physical workloads and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). This study compares the physical workloads of whole-body vibration (WBV) and awkward postures by direct field measurements and self-reported data of 45 occupational drivers. Manual materials handling (MMH) and MSDs were also investigated to analyse their effect on drivers' perception. Although the measured values for WBV exposure were very similarly distributed among the drivers, the subjects' perception differed significantly. Concerning posture, subjects seemed to estimate much better when the difference in exposure was significantly large. The percentage of measured awkward trunk and head inclination were significantly higher for WBV-overestimating subjects than non-overestimators; 77 and 80% vs. 36 and 33%. Health complaints in terms of thoracic spine, cervical spine and shoulder-arm were also significantly more reported by WBV-overestimating subjects (42, 67, 50% vs. 0, 25, 13%, respectively). Although more MMH was reported by WBV-overestimating subjects, there was no statistical significance in this study.
  Self-reported exposures of occupational drivers are affected by many other cofactors, and this can result in misinterpretations. A comparison between field measurement and questionnaire was used to highlight the factors affecting the perception of drivers for whole-body vibration (WBV) exposure. Posture and musculoskeletal disorders influenced the perception of the similarly WBV-exposed drivers significantly.
authors.affiliation: a IFA - Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung , Alte Heerstraße 111, 53757 Sankt Augustin , Germany.|b Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational Medicine, University Hospital, Aachen University of Technology , Pauwelsstr. 30, D-52074 Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Nastaran
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Raffler
authors.affiliation: a IFA - Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung , Alte Heerstraße 111, 53757 Sankt Augustin , Germany.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ellegast
authors.affiliation: b Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational Medicine, University Hospital, Aachen University of Technology , Pauwelsstr. 30, D-52074 Aachen , Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.affiliation: b Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational Medicine, University Hospital, Aachen University of Technology , Pauwelsstr. 30, D-52074 Aachen , Germany.|c Fakultät Gesundheits- und Pflegewissenschaften Westsächsische Hochschule Zwickau , Dr.-Friedrichs-Ring 2A, 08056 Zwickau , Germany.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ochsmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D010465:Perception; D011187:Posture; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016474:Weight-Bearing
keywords: awkward posture; field measurements; musculoskeletal disorders; questionnaires; whole-body vibration