Field-based evaluation of hand-arm vibration (HAV) and heat exposure among grounds maintenance workers in the southeastern United States: a pilot study.
- 1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
- 2Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- 3Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA. [email protected].
Abstract
Objective
The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate simultaneous exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV) and heat among grounds maintenance workers.Method
Ten groundskeepers employed at a southern US institution were recruited. Individual workers' exposure to HAV and heat was monitored during their regular work shift for three days. HAV exposure was measured using tri-axial vibration dosimeters worn on both hands of the participants to obtain daily vibration exposure (A(8)) and vibration total value (ahv) for each power tool used. Daily HAV exposure dose was determined using ahv for all tools used and corresponding tool operation duration. Lifetime cumulative HAV exposure dose (ahv-lifetime) was determined based on ahv for all tools used and exposure history obtained from a questionnaire. Personal heat exposure was evaluated using a wearable device to collect estimated core body temperature (CBT). Environmental heat metrics, including heat index (HI) and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), were determined using a WBGT monitor. Environmental parameters, including ambient temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation, were also measured using a portable weather station.Results
Mean A(8) values of the ten individual workers ranged from 0.8 to 3.3 m/s² for the right hand and 0.7 to 2.9 m/s² for the left hand. Tool-specific mean ahv ranged from 2.3 to 4.8 m/s² for the right hand and 2.6 to 6.2 m/s² for the left hand. The daily HAV exposure dose ranged from 6.2 to 23.7 m/s² for the right hand and from 4.6 to 23.4 m/s² for the left hand. The ahv-lifetime range was 1,128.5 to 172,333.0 and 1,102.4 to 161,462.6 h∙m/s² for the right and left hands, respectively. The daily mean of estimated CBT of the individual workers ranged from 36.7 to 39.1 °C. The daily mean HI and WBGT values were from 20.7 to 48.9 °C and from 17.5 to 37.5 °C, respectively. The average ambient temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation were 30.3 ± 4.1 °C, 59.9 ± 14.5%, and 217.8 ± 248.5 W/m², respectively.Conclusion
One groundskeeper's three-day average A(8) exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) action limit (AL) of 2.5 m/s². During the three-day full-time shift, 19.0% of total work hours exceeded the upper normal CBT range of 38 °C, and 66.0 and 65.4% of total work hours were at or above the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)'s proposed high heat trigger for HI (32.2 °C) and WBGT (26.7 °C for heavy workload), respectively. These findings indicate that continuous monitoring for heat strain is needed for outdoor workers whose jobs require a high workload especially under the southeastern US summer climate.
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BibTeX
@article{yang2026fieldbased,
title = {{Field-based evaluation of hand-arm vibration (HAV) and heat exposure among grounds maintenance workers in the southeastern United States: a pilot study.}},
author = {Seunghyeon Yang and Nathan Chen and Claudiu T Lungu and Jonghwa Oh},
journal = {Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology (London, England)},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12995-026-00523-7},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902315},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Field-based evaluation of hand-arm vibration (HAV) and heat exposure among grounds maintenance workers in the southeastern United States: a pilot study.
AU - Seunghyeon Yang
AU - Nathan Chen
AU - Claudiu T Lungu
AU - Jonghwa Oh
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology (London, England)
DO - 10.1186/s12995-026-00523-7
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42902315
AB - Objective The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate simultaneous exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV) and heat among grounds maintenance workers.Method Ten groundskeepers employed at a southern US institution were recruited. Individual workers' exposure to HAV and heat was monitored during their regular work shift for three days. HAV exposure was measured using tri-axial vibration dosimeters worn on both hands of the participants to obtain daily vibration exposure (A(8)) and vibration total value (ahv) for each power tool used. Daily HAV exposure dose was determined using ahv for all tools used and corresponding tool operation duration. Lifetime cumulative HAV exposure dose (ahv-lifetime) was determined based on ahv for all tools used and exposure history obtained from a questionnaire. Personal heat exposure was evaluated using a wearable device to collect estimated core body temperature (CBT). Environmental heat metrics, including heat index (HI) and wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT), were determined using a WBGT monitor. Environmental parameters, including ambient temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation, were also measured using a portable weather station.Results Mean A(8) values of the ten individual workers ranged from 0.8 to 3.3 m/s² for the right hand and 0.7 to 2.9 m/s² for the left hand. Tool-specific mean ahv ranged from 2.3 to 4.8 m/s² for the right hand and 2.6 to 6.2 m/s² for the left hand. The daily HAV exposure dose ranged from 6.2 to 23.7 m/s² for the right hand and from 4.6 to 23.4 m/s² for the left hand. The ahv-lifetime range was 1,128.5 to 172,333.0 and 1,102.4 to 161,462.6 h∙m/s² for the right and left hands, respectively. The daily mean of estimated CBT of the individual workers ranged from 36.7 to 39.1 °C. The daily mean HI and WBGT values were from 20.7 to 48.9 °C and from 17.5 to 37.5 °C, respectively. The average ambient temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation were 30.3 ± 4.1 °C, 59.9 ± 14.5%, and 217.8 ± 248.5 W/m², respectively.Conclusion One groundskeeper's three-day average A(8) exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) action limit (AL) of 2.5 m/s². During the three-day full-time shift, 19.0% of total work hours exceeded the upper normal CBT range of 38 °C, and 66.0 and 65.4% of total work hours were at or above the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)'s proposed high heat trigger for HI (32.2 °C) and WBGT (26.7 °C for heavy workload), respectively. These findings indicate that continuous monitoring for heat strain is needed for outdoor workers whose jobs require a high workload especially under the southeastern US summer climate.
SN - 1745-6673
ER -