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Predictors of whole-body vibration levels among urban taxi drivers.
Ergonomics. 2003 Sep 15; 46(11):1075-90.E

Abstract

To identify a set of important WBV predictors that could be used to develop a statistical instrument for exposure assessment in a large epidemiologic study, a total of 432 WBV measures were taken from a sample of 247 male drivers in Taipei City, Taiwan. In accordance with the ISO 2631-1 (1997) methods, we measured the frequency-weighted vertical acceleration (z-axis) over drivers' seat surface, under conditions representing different types of rides (vacant vs. short vs. long) assigned to random destinations. Mixed effect models were used to analyse the WBV data including repeated measures. For this group of urban taxi drivers regularly exposed to WBV of low intensity (mean = 0.31 ms(- 2), ranging from 0.17 to 0.55 ms(- 2) r.m.s.), our analyses indicated that average driving speed was the primary predictor (p < 0.0001). As average driving speed increased, measured vertical acceleration increased in a quadratic-linear manner (p < 0.0001). Other WBV predictors, after adjusting for the effects of other covariates, included automobile manufacturer (p = 0.02), engine size (p = 0.04), body weight (p = 0.002), age (p = 0.02), use of seat cushion (p = 0.03), and traffic period (p = 0.02). Our study suggests that a similar statistical approach could be employed in future studies to improve the quality and efficiency of WBV exposure assessment in professional drivers.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Chen JC
Occupational Health Program, Department of Environmental Health Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Chang WR
No affiliation info available
Shih TS
No affiliation info available
Chen CJ
No affiliation info available
Chang WP
No affiliation info available
Dennerlein JT
No affiliation info available
Ryan LM
No affiliation info available
Christiani DC
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AccelerationAdultAnalysis of VarianceAutomobile DrivingHumansLow Back PainMaleOccupational ExposureTaiwanUrban PopulationVibration

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

12850932

Citation

Chen, J C., et al. "Predictors of Whole-body Vibration Levels Among Urban Taxi Drivers." Ergonomics, vol. 46, no. 11, 2003, pp. 1075-90.
Chen JC, Chang WR, Shih TS, et al. Predictors of whole-body vibration levels among urban taxi drivers. Ergonomics. 2003;46(11):1075-90.
Chen, J. C., Chang, W. R., Shih, T. S., Chen, C. J., Chang, W. P., Dennerlein, J. T., Ryan, L. M., & Christiani, D. C. (2003). Predictors of whole-body vibration levels among urban taxi drivers. Ergonomics, 46(11), 1075-90.
Chen JC, et al. Predictors of Whole-body Vibration Levels Among Urban Taxi Drivers. Ergonomics. 2003 Sep 15;46(11):1075-90. PubMed PMID: 12850932.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Predictors of whole-body vibration levels among urban taxi drivers. AU - Chen,J C, AU - Chang,W R, AU - Shih,T S, AU - Chen,C J, AU - Chang,W P, AU - Dennerlein,J T, AU - Ryan,L M, AU - Christiani,D C, PY - 2003/7/10/pubmed PY - 2003/8/20/medline PY - 2003/7/10/entrez SP - 1075 EP - 90 JF - Ergonomics JO - Ergonomics VL - 46 IS - 11 N2 - To identify a set of important WBV predictors that could be used to develop a statistical instrument for exposure assessment in a large epidemiologic study, a total of 432 WBV measures were taken from a sample of 247 male drivers in Taipei City, Taiwan. In accordance with the ISO 2631-1 (1997) methods, we measured the frequency-weighted vertical acceleration (z-axis) over drivers' seat surface, under conditions representing different types of rides (vacant vs. short vs. long) assigned to random destinations. Mixed effect models were used to analyse the WBV data including repeated measures. For this group of urban taxi drivers regularly exposed to WBV of low intensity (mean = 0.31 ms(- 2), ranging from 0.17 to 0.55 ms(- 2) r.m.s.), our analyses indicated that average driving speed was the primary predictor (p < 0.0001). As average driving speed increased, measured vertical acceleration increased in a quadratic-linear manner (p < 0.0001). Other WBV predictors, after adjusting for the effects of other covariates, included automobile manufacturer (p = 0.02), engine size (p = 0.04), body weight (p = 0.002), age (p = 0.02), use of seat cushion (p = 0.03), and traffic period (p = 0.02). Our study suggests that a similar statistical approach could be employed in future studies to improve the quality and efficiency of WBV exposure assessment in professional drivers. SN - 0014-0139 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/12850932/Predictors_of_whole_body_vibration_levels_among_urban_taxi_drivers_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -