An objective rating approach for vibration discomfort evaluation in power tool ergonomics – examination of higher frequency components

Abstract

The workers productivity in the usage of power tools depends directly on the perceived comfort during the application. A comfort aspect that is felt particularly intensely is the vibration emissions of power tools. Vibrations strain the user in a physically and psychologically way. Hereby, the ahv-value (DIN EN ISO 5349-1) already considers harmful effects of vibrations on the human hand arm system, but it is not suitable to judge the discomfort of vibrations. An objective value for vibration discomfort evaluation in power tool applications does not exist. This paper analyses biological basics for human vibration sensing in power tool applications to investigate the correlation between the perceived vibration discomfort and objective vibration measurements in angle grinder applications. In addition to the known ahv-value, a new value is introduced which takes higher frequency components into account and suits to the perceived vibration discomfort for the tested applications with two angle grinders.