Comparing the Whole Body Vibration Exposures across Three Truck Seats. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Fangfang; Davies, Hugh; Du, Bronson; Johnson, Peter W.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society ... Annual Meeting. Volume 60:Part 1(2016)
• Page Start: 933
• Page End: 936
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Human engineering -- Congresses; 620.8205
• DOI: 10.1177/1541931213601214
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1541-9312

Abstract

Studies have shown that there are differences in whole body vibration (WBV) exposures and WBV attenuation performance among different suppliers of air suspension truck seats. With 17 truck drivers operating semi-trucks over two common road types (the same highways and dirt roads), WBV exposures were measured and compared across three different air-suspension truck seats. Similar to a previous study, in the higher-speed, on-road highway conditions, one seat was found to have higher WBV exposures and lower WBV attenuation performance. In off-road conditions at slower speed, there were negligible differences across the three seats. These differences in seat performance have important practical implications. The higher performing seats nearly doubled the amount of time drivers could operate their trucks before reaching the ISO daily vibration action limits from 3 to 6 hours a day to 9 to 11 hours a day. Seat suspension-based design differences are thought to account for the performance differences.