A means for predicting low-back musculo-skeletal disorders from jolting and jarring of heavy equipment operators

This article presents a step-by-step procedure for predicting the occurrence (or non-occurrence) of lumbar spinal disorders in workers subjected to long-term, whole-body vibration exposure. The procedure consists of relatively simple steps including the use of a biodynamic computer model together with an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard. The underlying analysis is based upon Kane's equations and the resulting worker model is validated with experimental data provided by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Biodynamics Laboratory, University of Vermont, and with published data.