The measurement of whole body vibration levels to which shuttle bus drivers

Aim: The aim of this study is to measure the whole body vibration levels to which 100 shuttle bus drivers are exposed while operating in Ankara and to evaluate the probable health effects.
Materials and methods: In this descriptive study 100 shuttle drivers doing the service of an institution in Ankara are included and the data is collected by using a questionnaire form consisting 59 questions. Whole body vibration is measured by using HAVPro Human Vibration Meter during a tour of the shuttle bus is completed. Data is analysed by using SPSS 16.0.
Results: Mean age of the drivers is 45,24  (minimum - maximum=39-51 years). Thirty-one percent stated that they drive nearly 90 thousand  kilometers or more within a year, 40,0 % work 6 hours, 32,0%  work 5 hours/day. The level of vibration measured in all three axis are as follows; median, minimum and maximum Vibration Dose Value (VDV) on X axis are 44,47 m/s^7/4 and 9166,21 m/s^7/4 (mean±SD=1777,72±3001,60 m/s^7/4) on Y axis 24,05 m/s^7/4, 9341,59 m/s^7/4 (mean±SD=1359,64±2600,33 m/s^7/4) and on Z axis 0,15 m/s^7/4and 6472,72 m/s^7/4 (mean±SD=478,25±1517,27 m/s^7/4) respectively. All of the level of vibration measured are higher than threshold limit value 0,795 m/s².  The minumum duration of measurement is 17 minutes whereas maximum is 37 minutes. A statistically significant relation is found between whole body vibration level and suffering from sleeplessness and fatigue (p<0,05).
Conclusion: All of the vibration measurenments are over the limit values. Relationship between whole body vibration and some symptoms is determined in this study. There is big gap of researches on this area and the measurements should be supported with repeated measurements and physical examination and laboratory tests.
Key words: Vibration, driver, health effects, exposre assessment, whole body vibration