The Ministry of Labor and Social Security issued a Regulation on Protection of Employees from Vibration Risks in 2013. While preparing this regulation, it is aimed to protect the employees from the health and safety risks that may arise if the employees are exposed to mechanical vibration during their work. The Regulation sets out the minimum requirements in this regard. This regulation, prepared in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Law No. 6331, is based on the vibration directive 2002 / 2002 / EC published in the European Union countries within the scope of health and safety studies in the workplaces in the European Union.

In the said regulation, the definitions related to vibrations are given as follows:

• Whole-body vibration: Mechanical vibrations that, if passed over the entire body, pose a danger to the health and safety of employees. These vibrations cause serious discomfort, especially in the lower back of the body and the spine.
• Hand-arm vibration: Mechanical vibrations that pose a danger to the health and safety of employees if they only pass into the hands and arms of the employees. These vibrations cause joint, bone, vascular, muscle and nerve disorders especially in the body.
• Exposure action value: A value that, if exceeded, requires the control of hazards arising from the exposure of employees to vibration.
• Exposure limit value: This is the value at which employees should not be subjected to any vibration above it.

Vibration (or vibration) has an important place among the physical factors that have an impact on human health. Essentially, the human body is subjected to two types of vibration: the vibration of the whole body or the vibration of the hands and arms only. Regardless of the type of vibration, the damage caused by exposure depends on a number of factors. For example,

• Characteristics of vibration (ie magnitude, frequency and direction)
• Type of equipment used and how it works
• Exposure conditions (ie continuous or intermittent, rest periods and total exposure time)
• Environmental conditions (ie ambient temperature, airflow rate, humidity, noise level, absorbed energy)
• Employee characteristics (ie working method, body position, health, training, skills, use of special protective equipment and personal sensitivity to damage)

Scope of Vibration Exposure Measurements

Mechanical vibrations that occur during the operation of powerful machines and equipment pass through the body through fingers and hands. Stronger vibrations spread throughout the body, while some remain in the hands and arms. Vibrations passing to hands are called hand-arm vibrations. In many sectors such machines and equipment are used. For example, grinding machines, accent metal work, rotating devices, hammers used in mining, rock drilling machines, machinery used in agriculture, agriculture and forestry are examples. Continuous exposure to hand-arm vibrations causes discomfort in blood vessels, muscles, nerves and joints.

The generally accepted classification table for exposure to hand-arm vibrations is as follows:

• 0 = Vibration exposure but no indication
• 1 = Tingling or occasional numbness in hands and arms
• 2 = Intermittent or continuous numbness, sensory perception decreases
• 3 = Intermittent or constant numbness, senses cannot be separated, hand and arm skills are reduced

A few standards considered for exposure to hand-arm vibrations are:

• TS EN ISO 5349-1 Mechanical vibration - Measurement and evaluation of hand-held vibration to which persons are exposed - Part 1: General rules
• TS EN ISO 5349-2 ... Chapter 2: Practical guide for measuring in the workplace

Whole body vibration is the state of vibrations that pass through the whole body up to the feet, hips and back. Such vibrations may generally occur in transport companies and some industrial establishments. Like all mechanical structures, the human body can, to some extent, respond to mechanical responses. The transmission of vibrations by the body depends on the frequency of the vibration, the axis of vibration and the body structure. The duration of exposure to vibrations, the point of contact of the body, the direction and frequency of vibrations cause discomfort in humans. All body vibrations cause circulatory system disorders in general.

The following are some of the standards considered for exposure to whole body vibrations:

• TS ISO 2631-1 Mechanical vibration and shock - Assessment of exposure to whole-body vibration - Part 1: General rules
• TS ISO 2631-2 ... - Part 2: Continuous and impact-induced vibration in buildings (1 to 80 Hz)
• TS ISO 2631-5 ... Chapter 5: Method for the evaluation of vibration involving multiple shocks

Exposure limit values ​​and exposure action values ​​are explained in the Regulation on Protection of Employees from Vibration Related Risks as follows:

• For hand and arm vibrations:
  • The daily exposure limit value is 5 m / s2 during the eight-hour study period.
  • The daily exposure action value is 2,5 m / s2 over an eight-hour run.
• For whole body vibrations:
  • The daily exposure limit value is 1,15 m / s2 during the eight-hour study period.
  • The daily exposure action value is 0,5 m / s2 over an eight-hour run.

This regulation makes employers responsible for the prevention or reduction of exposure. Businesses are obliged to combat various risks at their source and, taking into account technical developments, eliminate or at least mitigate the risks arising from the exposure of employees to mechanical vibrations. The prevention and mitigation of the exposure should be based on the principles of risk protection in the Occupational Health and Safety Act No. 6331. In this context, employers are required to have a reliable test and inspection body measure the vibration exposures and prepare an action plan based on the results.

To this end, enterprises may choose other operating methods that reduce exposure to vibrations, use more ergonomic equipment with the lowest possible vibrations, provide additional equipment to reduce exposure, make appropriate maintenance programs for the systems, machinery and equipment used, and organize the work environment more appropriately. or limit the duration and level of exposure.