The Study on Whole Body Vibration Exposure Induces Low Back Pain among UTHM Bus Drivers

Abstract

Buses are one of the important public transportation in Malaysia and commonly important for the student in any university. Thus, the study about Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) exposure induces to Low Back Pain (LBP) among the Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) was done. The objective was determine whether the bus drivers in UTHM would exceed the exposure action and limit values from the ISO 2631-1 (1997) during the working hours. Data collected according to different type of buses and evaluated the vibration significant different between buses based on the subjective correlation due to WBV questionnaire analysis. Analyze the prevalence of LBP based on the measurement and the questionnaire analysis. The study based on the international standard ISO 2631-1 (1997) which is related to the root-men-square (r.m.s) and Vibration Dose Value (VDV) parameter. The study covered among the bus drivers in UTHM. The measurement tools involved in the study is Larson Davis Vibration Meter (HVM 100) with Tri-axial Seat Pad Accelerometer to record data collection. The BLAZE software analyze the vibration exposure exceed the total vibration exposure according to 8 hours day A(8) value of 1.15 m/s 2 and VDV value of 21.0 m/s 1.75 . The IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to do statistical analysis and testing involved was correlation, regression and ANOVA. Result obtained shows the A(8) and VDV was under EAV with highest value of 0.520 m/s 2 and12.65 m/s 1.75 . The highest contribution factors by the duration to complete single trip per day (α=0.500).The further re-assess of working schedule need to be done in order to control the exposure level toward drivers. The assessment should be done for every two years.