Hand-arm vibration in tropical rain forestry workers
Futatsuka, M.; Inaoka, T.; Ohtsuka, R.; Sakurai, T.; Moji, K.; Igarashi, T.
Central European Journal of Public Health 3(Suppl): 90-92
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 1210-7778 PMID: 9150981 Document Number: 441688
Working conditions and health hazards including vibration syndrome related to forestry work using chainsaws were studied in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The subjects comprised 291 workers including 97 chainsaw operators. The health examination consisted of peripheral circulatory and sensory tests in the upper extremities. The vibration spectrum measured at the handle of the chainsaw indicated that these acceleration levels would lead to a moderately high risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). The peripheral circulatory function tests revealed dysfunction after more than five years vibration exposure. However, in general, the results of the function tests and subjective complaints showed fewer health problems compared to those of Japanese forestry workers. The reason of such differences of vibration effects seem to be the following: (1) warmer climate (>25 degrees C throughout the year), (2) young workers and short work experience, (3) short time vibration exposures on working days in the natural forests, (4) seasonal changes in logging work, (5) healthy workers' effects. Thus, no clear evidence was found that the workers of our study suffered from HAVS. A principal component analysis was applied.