scope:

Purpose and application

The purpose of the present guideline is to provide a uniform procedure for assessing the effect on the human being of mechanical whole-body vibration and also to give general instructions on determining the assessment variables (see also the note to Section 1.1). On the basis of the physical data of vibration measurements and taking different frequency-dependent effects into consideration, the root-meansquare value aw of the frequency-weighted acceleration a_w(t) is formed as a variable characterizing vibration exposure (see Section 3.9). When the exposure duration T is included it becomes possible to estimate restrictions on well-being, performance and the risk of health damage. A knowledge of a_w in conjunction with the exposure duration T is thus a necessary condition of formulating measures to avoid or limit the impairments mentioned.

This guideline will not provide any limit values for the acceptability or admissibility of vibration exposures. However, Section 6 does include a number of guideline values and some information for assessing particular exposures with respect to the expected effects on the individual. The procedure which is described in this guideline is applicable to any kind of translational or rotational vibration. But it is not suitable for use in evaluating individual impacts of great amplitude, such as occur in vehicle accidents, for example. The frequency range extends from 0.5 Hz to 80 Hz for impairment of the sense of well-being, of performance and of health, and from 0.1 Hz to 0.5 Hz for impairment via kinetosis.

Mechanical vibration can input its effects via the feet of a standing person, or via the buttocks, back and feet of a sitting person, or the contact area of the person lying down.

The procedure can be used even for cases of alternating or unknown body postures (handarm vibration exposure whereby effects drive via the hands are dealt with in VDI 2057 Part 2).

Note: Currently little knowledge is available about the effects on the human being of exposure to rotational vibrations. For this reason this guideline will not initially provide any further information on assessing such vibrations. Information in this regard may be found in Section 8.2 of the international standard ISO 2631-1 : 1997.