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      Determining Noise and Vibration Exposure in Conifer Cross-Cutting Operations by Using Li-Ion Batteries and Electric Chainsaws

      , , , , ,
      Forests
      MDPI AG

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          Abstract

          In many activities, chainsaw users are exposed to the risk of injuries and several other hazard factors that may cause health problems. In fact, environmental and working conditions when using chainsaws result in workers’ exposure to hazards such as noise, vibration, exhaust gases, and wood dust. Repeated or continuous exposure to these unfavourable conditions can lead to occupational diseases that become apparent after a certain period of time has elapsed. Since the use of electric tools is increasing in forestry, the present research aims to evaluate the noise and vibration exposure caused by four models of electric chainsaws (Stihl MSA160T, Stihl MSA200C Li-Ion battery powered and Stihl MSE180C, Stihl MSE220C wired) during cross-cutting. Values measured on the Stihl MSA160T chainsaw (Li-Ion battery) showed similar vibration levels on both right and left handles (0.9–1.0 m s−2, respectively) and so did the other battery-powered chainsaw, the Stihl MSA200C (2.2–2.3 m s−2 for right and left handles, respectively). Results showed a range of noise included between 81 and 90 dB(A) for the analysed chainsaws. In conclusion, the vibrations and noise were lower for the battery chainsaws than the wired ones, but, in general, all the values were lower than those measured in previous studies of endothermic chainsaws.

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          Most cited references31

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          Recycling of lithium-ion batteries: a novel method to separate coating and foil of electrodes

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            The burdens of age-related and occupational noise-induced hearing loss in the United States.

            Aging and noise are generally considered the most common causes of adult hearing loss in developed countries. This study estimates the contributions of aging and occupational noise in the United States. A model of hearing loss burden in American adults was constructed using data from the Census Bureau, from an international standard that predicts age-related and noise-induced hearing loss (ISO-1999), from the American Medical Association method of determining hearing impairment, and from sources estimating the distribution of occupational noise exposure in different age and sex groups. Occupational noise exposure probably accounts for less than 10% of the burden of adult hearing loss in the United States; most of the rest is age-related. Most of the occupational noise burden is attributable to unprotected exposures above 95 dBA, and becomes apparent in middle age, when occupational noise exposure has ceased but age-related threshold shifts are added to prior noise-induced shifts, resulting in clinically significant impairment. In our current state of knowledge, noise-induced hearing loss is still the most important preventable cause of hearing loss in the United States. The burden of occupational noise-induced hearing loss could probably be reduced by stricter enforcement of existing regulations. Longer lifespans in developed countries and migration of manufacturing jobs to developing countries will continue to reduce the relative contribution of occupational hearing loss in countries like the United States. Preventive interventions for age-related hearing loss, even if only partially effective, could potentially reduce the burden of adult hearing loss more than elimination of occupational noise.
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              Exposure-response relationship in the hand-arm vibration syndrome: an overview of current epidemiology research.

              M Bovenzi (1998)
              The complex of vascular, neurologic, and osteoarticular disorders occurring in the upper limbs of vibration-exposed workers is called hand-arm vibration syndrome. There is epidemiologic evidence for an increased occurrence of peripheral sensorineural disorders in occupational groups working with vibrating tools. An excess risk for wrist osteoarthrosis and for elbow arthrosis and osteophytosis has been reported in workers exposed to shocks and low-frequency vibration of high magnitude from percussive tools. However, there are too few epidemiology data to enable reliable conclusions to be drawn about exposure-response relationships for both sensorineural disturbances and bone and joint disorders caused by hand-transmitted vibration. Cross-sectional and longitudinal epidemiology studies have shown that occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration from a great variety of hand-held tools is significantly associated with an increased occurrence of digital vasospastic disorders called vibration-induced white finger (VWF). The proposal of an exposure-response relationship for VWF has been included in an annex to the international standard ISO 5349. The findings of several epidemiology studies have shown a poor agreement between the risk for VWF observed in various occupational groups and that predicted by the ISO 5349 model. Both overestimation and underestimation of the occurrence of VWF have been reported by investigators. It has been argued that the current ISO frequency-weighting curve for hand-transmitted vibration may be inappropriate for the assessment of vibration-induced adverse vascular effects. Alternative exposure-response relationships for VWF have been suggested in recent epidemiology studies. The epidemiology data used to construct current exposure-response relationships for vibration-induced injuries are primarily derived from cross-sectional studies. Future epidemiology research should be based on prospective cohort studies because the design characteristics of such studies permit the study of cause-effect relationships and the formulation of etiologic hypotheses.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Forests
                Forests
                MDPI AG
                1999-4907
                August 2018
                August 17 2018
                : 9
                : 8
                : 501
                Article
                10.3390/f9080501
                f0c00cbb-8c60-4f03-9f80-39601acee521
                © 2018

                https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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