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Hand-Arm Vibration Controls for Jackleg Rock Drills: a Pilot Study Assessing Ergonomic Hazards

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Abstract

Jackleg drill operators are exposed to harmful levels of hand-arm vibration (HAV). Anti-vibration handles and gloves provide modest reductions in HAV exposures and forearm muscle exertion from the use of anti-vibration handles and gloves by jackleg drill operators. The goal of this pilot study was to investigate changes in HAV with the use of anti-vibration gloves and handles compared to forearm muscle exertion experienced by operators and measured with surface electromyography (EMG). Five subjects operated the drill under four different cases: no anti-vibration controls, anti-vibration gloves only, anti-vibration handle only, and simultaneous anti-vibration handle and glove use. Muscle exertion was expressed as a percent of maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) and was compared using Welch’s ANOVA with Games-Howell post hoc comparisons. The case with both anti-vibration controls in use simultaneously (largest grip diameter) was associated with a mean %MVC of 36.13% during operation for all forearm muscles combined, which was significantly higher than that of the other cases (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in mean HAV exposures. The anti-vibration handle with anti-vibration glove case only increased the maximum allowable exposure time by 8 min as compared to the control case without any anti-vibration controls. These results suggest that the modest HAV exposure reductions from the use of anti-vibration handles and gloves may pale in comparison to the increased muscle exertion resulting from their use, and this trade-off among jackleg drill operators is a potential concern that warrants further investigation.

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Funding

This study was supported in part by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Training Project Grant (grant no. T03OH008630). The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent official views of the CDC or NIOSH.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Safety, Health and Industrial Hygiene, Montana Technological University, Butte, MT, 59701, USA

    Ciara Kremer, Daniel Autenrieth, Theresa Stack & Dave Gilkey

  2. Department of Mining Engineering, Montana Technological University, Butte, MT, 59701, USA

    Scott Rosenthal

Authors
  1. Ciara Kremer
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  2. Daniel Autenrieth
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  3. Theresa Stack
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  4. Scott Rosenthal
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  5. Dave Gilkey
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Contributions

Ms. Ciara Kremer, the lead author, was a graduate student earning her MS degree. Dr. Autenrieth was the Chair of the Graduate Committee and oversaw the study from conception to completion. Professor Stack was a graduate committee member and contributed to all phases of the study. Professor Rosenthal was a graduate committee member and participated in all phases of the study. Dr. Gilkey contributed to the interpretation of the findings and provided detailed review, editing, manuscript preparation, and submission.

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Correspondence to Dave Gilkey.

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Kremer, C., Autenrieth, D., Stack, T. et al. Hand-Arm Vibration Controls for Jackleg Rock Drills: a Pilot Study Assessing Ergonomic Hazards. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 38, 1933–1941 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-021-00451-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-021-00451-6

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