Human response to hand-arm vibration and occupational exposure limit

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The purpose of this study was to clarify the scientific reasoning behind the occupational exposure limits for hand-arm vibration in Japan. Numerous publications from scientific journals and conference proceedings in the related field were checked for epidemiological data limited to studies of Japanese subjects containing vibration magnitude value and relation between prevalence of white finger and duration of exposure to hand-arm vibration. Prevalence of white finger in general population was investigated for comparing that in workers exposed to hand-arm vibration. Responses of peripheral circulatory and nervous functions in the upper extremities to acute exposure to hand-arm vibration were investigated and relation between the responses and characteristic of exposed vibration was analyzed. From the above data, the vibration magnitude value of 2.8 m/s^2 rms was considered to be appropriate as an 8-h energy-equivalent occupational exposure limit for hand-arm vibration in three axes and was proposed as an occupational exposure limit for hand-arm vibration in Japan.