Low back and neck pain in locomotive engineers exposed to whole-body vibration

David McBride; Sara Paulin; G. Peter Herbison; David Waite; Nasser Bagheri

doi:10.1080/19338244.2013.771246

Low back and neck pain in locomotive engineers exposed to whole-body vibration

David McBride, Sara Paulin, G. Peter Herbison, David Waite, Nasser Bagheri

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and excess risk of low back pain and neck pain in locomotive engineers, and to investigate the relationship of bothwith whole-body vibration exposure. A cross-sectional survey comparing locomotive engineers with other rail worker referents was conducted. Current vibration levels were measured, cumulative exposures calculated for engineers and referents, and low back and neck pain assessed by a self-completed questionnaire. Median vibration exposure in the z- (vertical) axis was 0.62 m/s². Engineers experienced more frequent low back and neck pain, odds ratios (ORs) of 1.77 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-2.64) and 1.92 (95% CI: 1.22-3.02), respectively. The authors conclude that vibration close to the "action levels" of published standards contribute to low back and neck pain. Vibration levels need to be assessed conservatively and control measures introduced.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	207-213
Number of pages	7
Journal	Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health
Volume	69
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/19338244.2013.771246
Publication status	Published - 2014
Externally published	Yes

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10.1080/19338244.2013.771246

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title = "Low back and neck pain in locomotive engineers exposed to whole-body vibration",

abstract = "The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and excess risk of low back pain and neck pain in locomotive engineers, and to investigate the relationship of bothwith whole-body vibration exposure. A cross-sectional survey comparing locomotive engineers with other rail worker referents was conducted. Current vibration levels were measured, cumulative exposures calculated for engineers and referents, and low back and neck pain assessed by a self-completed questionnaire. Median vibration exposure in the z- (vertical) axis was 0.62 m/s2. Engineers experienced more frequent low back and neck pain, odds ratios (ORs) of 1.77 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-2.64) and 1.92 (95% CI: 1.22-3.02), respectively. The authors conclude that vibration close to the {"}action levels{"} of published standards contribute to low back and neck pain. Vibration levels need to be assessed conservatively and control measures introduced.",

keywords = "Epidemiology, Exposure assessment, Occupational diseases, Risk assessment",

author = "David McBride and Sara Paulin and Herbison, {G. Peter} and David Waite and Nasser Bagheri",

note = "Funding Information: The authors acknowledge the support given by Tranz Rail Limited, the Locomotive Engineers Council, and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union. The authors thank particularly all the engineers who facilitated the vibration measurements. Funding Information: The study was funded by Tranz-Rail New Zealand Limited. Dr David Waite was Consultant Occupational Physician to Tranz-Rail at the time of the study.",

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doi = "10.1080/19338244.2013.771246",

language = "English",

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AU - McBride, David

AU - Paulin, Sara

AU - Herbison, G. Peter

AU - Waite, David

AU - Bagheri, Nasser

N1 - Funding Information: The authors acknowledge the support given by Tranz Rail Limited, the Locomotive Engineers Council, and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union. The authors thank particularly all the engineers who facilitated the vibration measurements. Funding Information: The study was funded by Tranz-Rail New Zealand Limited. Dr David Waite was Consultant Occupational Physician to Tranz-Rail at the time of the study.

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and excess risk of low back pain and neck pain in locomotive engineers, and to investigate the relationship of bothwith whole-body vibration exposure. A cross-sectional survey comparing locomotive engineers with other rail worker referents was conducted. Current vibration levels were measured, cumulative exposures calculated for engineers and referents, and low back and neck pain assessed by a self-completed questionnaire. Median vibration exposure in the z- (vertical) axis was 0.62 m/s2. Engineers experienced more frequent low back and neck pain, odds ratios (ORs) of 1.77 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-2.64) and 1.92 (95% CI: 1.22-3.02), respectively. The authors conclude that vibration close to the "action levels" of published standards contribute to low back and neck pain. Vibration levels need to be assessed conservatively and control measures introduced.

AB - The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and excess risk of low back pain and neck pain in locomotive engineers, and to investigate the relationship of bothwith whole-body vibration exposure. A cross-sectional survey comparing locomotive engineers with other rail worker referents was conducted. Current vibration levels were measured, cumulative exposures calculated for engineers and referents, and low back and neck pain assessed by a self-completed questionnaire. Median vibration exposure in the z- (vertical) axis was 0.62 m/s2. Engineers experienced more frequent low back and neck pain, odds ratios (ORs) of 1.77 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-2.64) and 1.92 (95% CI: 1.22-3.02), respectively. The authors conclude that vibration close to the "action levels" of published standards contribute to low back and neck pain. Vibration levels need to be assessed conservatively and control measures introduced.

KW - Epidemiology

KW - Exposure assessment

KW - Occupational diseases

KW - Risk assessment

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JO - Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health

JF - Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health

IS - 4

ER -

Low back and neck pain in locomotive engineers exposed to whole-body vibration

Abstract

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