Muscular Discomfort in Occupational Motorcycle Riding

Abstract

The requirement to live with technological advances creates new types of jobs replacing old ones. The best example can be observed in e-commerce sector, where a new kind delivery/pickup job has been created, employing a larger proportion of younger population. Although, this class of working population is exposed to poor working conditions due to traffic and other factors: vehicle related (vibration, poor design of the vehicle or baggage, etc.); environment related (noise, weather, etc.). There is an urgent need of ergonomic interventions in these types of jobs to improve occupational safety, health and productivity. The present study was a thought to preliminary investigate the effect of motorcycle riding on discomfort and to assess the vibration exposure under simulated riding environment. The measured parameter in the given task to the participants was perceived discomfort, whole-body vibration exposure and EMG activity of forearm muscles. The results showed that vibration exposure was above the Health Guideline Caution Zone of ISO 2631-1:1997. Wrist and palm areas were found to be points of higher discomfort values than other points indicated by the participants.