Perceived vibration exposure symptoms in workers performing seasonal olives harvesting

Abstract

This study aimed to contribute to the knowledge of the occupational vibration risk of exposure of workers performing the seasonal task of harvesting olives for oil, especially with regard to their perception about the effects of this exposure. Thus, it was necessary to collect information on this type of exposure, on the main risk factors associated with it and to check the main symptoms reported by operators exposed to high vibrational levels. It was also performed a characterization of the exposure of these operators, in order to collect the needed information for proposing measures to minimize the risk of exposure to Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV). Twenty-six mechanic olive harvesters were evaluated. It was noticed that, during the campaigns of olive harvesting, workers using mechanic olive harvesters are exposed to HAV levels that exceed, in some cases, the action limit of exposure imposed by law. Confounding factors associated with the task itself, namely low temperature and extreme postures of the arms and torso, potentiate the evolution of Raynaud's syndrome within the analysed workers.