Influence of driving speed, terrain, seat performance and ride control on predicted health risk based on ISO 2631-1 and EU directive 2002/44/EC

Abstract

Operators of load-haul-dump (LHD) vehicles are commonly exposed to wholebody-vibration (WBV) levels above ISO 2631-1 and EU Directive 2002/44/EC guidelines. WBV was measured at the floor and seat while the same operator drove two LHDs on a controlled test track while driving speed, bucket load, ride control, terrain type, driving task, and seat optimization were varied. Frequency-weighted RMS acceleration was calculated and A(8) values were modeled for six driving scenarios. Vibration exposure was lowest when the LHD was driven at the lowest speed, forward, over smooth terrain, with ride control on and the bucket loaded (0.20 m/s2). The A(8) decreased from 0.84 m/s 2 when driving with ride control off, over mixed terrain using all gears, to 0.53 m/s2 when driving with ride control on and an optimized seat. The estimated daily exposure decreased but remained just above the ISO 2631-1 and EU Directive 2002/44/EC guidelines.