WBV or whole-body vibration is experienced when sitting, standing or lying on a vibrating surface. Locomotive 
engineers and trainmen, who perform the vast majority of their work while sitting, are constantly exposed to WBV. These include sudden shocks and jolts under normal train operations, happening constantly throughout the day. Studies of long-term exposure to WBV show evidence of risks to health, mainly musculoskeletal disorders involving the lower spine, neck and shoulders. High WBV exposure increases the risk of lower-back pain, herniated discs and early degeneration of the spine.
Train personnel who are constantly exposed to WBV may not be likely to experience high levels of whole-body vibration and so their employers are unlikely to have to take any action under these Regulations. Nevertheless, it is absolutely imperative that employers take action to prevent risk from exposure to vibration. They need to consider whether there are other ways or machines that would eliminate the exposure to the vibration so as to reduce the risks of WBV. Some measures that can be taken to bring down whole-body vibration are:
- Bring together control measures whenever your employees’ daily exposure to vibration is likely to exceed the exposure action value.
- Abstaining from exposing your employees from exposure beyond the limit value.
Legal Duties
After a barrage of WBV FELA suits that resulted in six or seven figure penalties to injured parties, it’s about time that employers start taking cumulative measures for whole body vibrations seriously. Some measures that should be considered are:
- Assess the vibration risk to your employees;
- Decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure action value; if they are:
- Introduce a programme of controls to eliminate or reduce their daily exposure so far as is reasonably practicable;
- Decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure limit value; if they are:
- Take immediate action to reduce their exposure below the limit value;
- Provide information and training on health risks and controls to employees at risk.
- Consult your trade union safety representative or employee representative about the risks and what you plan to do.
- Keep a record of your risk assessment and control actions.
- Review and update your risk assessment regularly.
To this end, the live webinar “Whole Body Vibration Cumulative Trauma Injuries – Causes and Prevention for Train Crews ” with expert speaker Tom Barron, Ph.D., CIHM, CECD, CECM, president of 21st Management Corporation, will deliver an in-depth presentation on Whole Body Vibrations. It will also discuss the anatomical science behind different types of vibrations on the body. Finally, it will discuss the various work conditions that workers are exposed to that make them susceptible to WBV injuries, and lists measures that can be put in-place to reduce employee exposure and avoid potential FELA suits.
