Health Hazard Assessment of Tractor Driver Whole-body Vibration Utilizing the ISO 2631 Standard

In order to quantify tractor driver Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) induced by some of the agricultural operations, the ISO 2631 standard was utilized. Detailed methodology of the calculation of the WBV evaluating indices using the time-domain acceleration data analysis was presented. According to the results of the study, typical weighted root mean square (WRMS) value of the Z-axis vibration was more than the WRMS value of the X and Y axes vibrations. Furthermore all of the severity categories (SV) obtained from driving the tractor on asphalt road, plowing and power tilling based on the equivalent daily stress index (Sed), were graded in the class of 3 or 4; which means that the health hazard associated with these operations is marginal. Finally among the examined machines; the locally built, tractor front mounted, hydraulic power aided loader caused vibrations that were slightly higher than the exposure limit value (ELV), with regard to the parameter of WRMS over an eight hour period (A(8)).