ACGIH® will present The Assessment of Occupational Exposures to Hand-Arm and Whole-Body Vibration on November 8, 2017 at the following times:

  • 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
  • 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Central Time
  • 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time
  • 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time

Physical and injurious consequences have been attributed to occupational exposures to vibration. A set of upper extremity disorders known as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) have been reported by workers occupationally exposed to hand-arm or hand transmitted vibration when using hand-held vibratory tools. Chronic back pain and back disorders have been reported by workers occupationally exposed to whole-body vibration during the operation of ground, air, and water vehicles. This webinar will include two sessions to specifically address these two types of exposures. Both sessions will review the existing standards referenced as the guidelines for the respective TLVs®, and will include a discussion of the frequency weightings, their basis, application, and limitations. Emphasis will be placed on defining and calculating the various health risk metrics and how to apply these metrics in a meaningful context to workers and their employers.

After participating in this webinar, attendees will:

  • Understand and be able to describe general vibration terminology.
  • Be able to categorize sources of human body vibration.
  • Understand and be able to characterize general vibration measurements.
  • Be able to describe health effects associated with occupational exposures to Hand-Arm and Whole-Body Vibration.
  • Understand the assumptions and limitations of the ACGIH® TLVs® on Hand-Arm and Whole-Body Vibration.
  • Be able to describe best practices for applying the ACGIH® TLVs® on Hand-Arm and Whole-Body Vibration.

ACGIH® is pleased to offer webinar attendees an audio option. U.S. and Canadian attendees can connect to the audio portion of the webinar via the toll-free audio telephone link or listen to the audio portion through an audio stream directly through their computer. Other international participants can listen via the audio stream without incurring additional telephone charges.

Bernard J. Martin, PhD and Suzanne D. Smith, PhD will present this webinar.

Bernard J. Martin, PhD is a professor at the Center of Ergonomics, Department of Industrial and Operation Engineering at the University of Michigan. He holds an appointment in the School of Kinesiology.  He has an engineering degree in applied physics and electrical engineering from the ENSP, a PhD in Bioengineering and Doctorate Es Science from the Université de Provence (Marseille, France). He was a research scientist at the National Institute for Safety and Health in France before joining the University of Michigan. Dr. Martin teaches courses in ergonomics, human performance and engineering systems and neurosensory systems. His research is centered on human sensorimotor systems and the application of such knowledge to performance, rehabilitation and ergonomics. His research uses complementary approaches to investigate the role of sensory information in the regulation of sensorimotor activities and the way in which vibration interferes with sensory and motor functions. Dr. Martin is a current member of the ACGIH® Threshold Limit Values for Physical Agents (TLV®-PA) Committee.

Suzanne D. Smith, PhD retired from the Air Force Research Laboratory, 711 Human Performance Wing (HPW), Wright Patterson Air Force Base after 34 years as a research engineer. She is currently employed as a consultant to the 711 HPW continuing her work in the area of Whole-Body Vibration. Dr. Smith has a bachelor’s degree in Biology and MSE degree in Mechanical Engineering from West Virginia University and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vermont. She is the lead Air Force expert on human Whole-Body Vibration; she has conducted several studies and authored numerous papers on the effects of multi-axis vibration environments, including operational exposures on human biodynamics, health, comfort, and performance. She is the USAF member to the ANSI Accredited Standards Committee on Mechanical Vibration and Shock and the ISO Technical Advisory Group on Human Exposure to Mechanical Vibration and Shock. Her current research efforts include characterizing and assessing the unique operational vibration present in aerospace environments, investigating the mechanism by which vibration effects physiological changes and evaluating mitigation strategies for reducing operational vibration. Dr. Smith is a current member of the ACGIH® Threshold Limit Values for Physical Agents (TLV®-PA) Committee.

This webinar contains 2.0 contact hours and may be eligible for ABIH CM credit.  See the ABIH website (www.abih.org) for CM credit criteria. This webinar may also qualify for BCSP recertification points for Certified Safety Professionals. Participants seeking confirmation of attendance for the webinar from ACGIH® must attend the live webinar or view the archive and submit a final exam and evaluation. Certificates of Completion will be issued in a timely manner after receipt and completion of these items.

For more detailed information about the The Assessment of Occupational Exposures to Hand-Arm and Whole-Body Vibration webinar, contact Ryan Peltier at rpeltier@acgih.org or 513-742-2020.

To register for this exciting event, visit the ACGIH® website at http://www.acgih.org/forms/meeting/Microsite/whole-body-vibration-webinar.

ACGIH® is a 501(c)(3) charitable scientific organization that advances occupational and environmental health. ACGIH® is one of the industry’s leading publications resources, with approximately 400 titles relative to occupational and environmental health and safety, including the renowned TLVs® and BEIs®.  For more information, visit the ACGIH® website at www.acgih.org or call our Customer Service Representatives at 513-742-2020.