A study of the correlation between payload and whole-body vibration of a scooter rider

Abstract

Long-term exposure to whole-body vibrations increases the risk of different pathological changes to the body and neural system. Although most scooter riders use it only for short-distance transportation, some people, such as postmen and deliverymen, utilize it as a tool for making a living in Taiwan. We recruited nine participants to take part in the experiment. The experiment included three levels of rider weight and three levels of payload to evaluate the whole-body vibration under nine (=3 × 3) operating conditions. The 8-h estimated vibration dose value (VDV) was determined from the collected data in accordance with the ISO 2631-1 standard. The study results indicate that the heavier the rider weight is or the heavier the payload is, the greater is the vibration exposure. Both rider weight and payload have a significant effect on vibration exposure. The design of the shock absorber has a greater impact on vibration exposure.