| 1. |
- Ek, Åsa, et al.
(författare)
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Introduktion av lågvibrerande maskiner vid arbetsplatser med hög vibrationsexponering : framgångsfaktorer för efterfrågan och användning
- 2020
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Exponering för vibrationer genom användning av handhållna maskiner i arbetet kan ge vibrationsskador i händerna. Dessa skador kan ofta vara förödande för den drabbades möjligheter att utföra sitt arbete, innebära ett stort personligt lidande samt stora samhälleliga kostnader då det inte sällan innebär behov av omplacering.Denna rapport är en del av projektet Noll Vibrationsskador, vilket har haft som syfte att kraftigt minska vibrationsnivåerna från handhållna maskiner genom att åtgärda källan till vibrationerna. Lågvibrerande maskinprototyper har testats i så kallade demonstrationsmiljöer hos i projektet deltagande företag.Syftet med den del av projektet som redovisas i denna rapport har varit att undersöka hur nya vibrationsdämpade maskiner tas emot i demonstrationsmiljöerna, om det finns en förståelse och acceptans för nya maskiner i organisationerna, och vad det kan finnas för hinder eller framgångsfaktorer för framtida användning av de nyutvecklade maskinerna. Syftet har också varit att undersöka medvetenheten hos organisationerna om vibrationer och vibrationsskador, samt eventuella kunskapsluckor om risker med vibrationer eller högfrekventa vibrationer samt gällande lagstiftning.Inom demonstrationsmiljöerna; stålverk, stenbrott, byggindustri och tandtekniklaboratorium, och bestående av besök i totalt sex olika företag, genomfördes 28 semistrukturerade intervjuer samt en längre rundvandring. Intervjuerna genomfördes med personer på olika nivåer i företagen, från maskinanvändare till högsta ledning.Från intervjuresultaten framkom framgångsfaktorer för fortsatt användning och efterfrågan av lågvibrerande maskiner. Det finns ett behov av ökad kunskap och medvetenhet kring risker med vibrationer i företagen och den kunskap som redan finns behöver få en större spridning genom organisationerna. För att skapa ökad förståelse och acceptans för de nya vibrationsdämpade maskinerna krävs ett ökat deltagande från de som ska använda maskinerna. Maskintillverkarnas viktiga roll för bättre maskinutbud och god information om maskiners vibrationsnivåer framkom också. En god kommunikation mellan anställda och mellan anställda och ledning om vibrationer är centralt och ledningen behöver ge tydliga signaler om prioriteringar och skapa en dialog kring vibrationsexponeringar och -skador. Förändringsprocesser vid arbetsplatser där vibrationsdämpade maskiner skall introduceras och börja användas behöver utformas väl och med beaktande av ovanstående faktorer. Det kan ta tid att genomföra en sådan förändring, men om det görs väl kan det resultera i en förändrad arbetsplatskultur där vibrationsdämpade maskiner används som en naturlig del i arbetet.
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| 2. |
- Fisk, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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A Study of Attitudes and Behaviors in Industries Regarding Implementation of Low-Vibrating Machines and Measures to Reduce Vibration Injuries
- 2021
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the 21st Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2021) : Volume IV: Healthcare and Healthy Work - Volume IV: Healthcare and Healthy Work. - Cham : Springer International Publishing. - 2367-3370 .- 2367-3389. - 9783030746117 - 9783030746100 ; 222, s. 63-69
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Vibration injuries are the most common approved occupational diseaseamong men in Sweden. Vibration injuries often involves chronic nerve and vascular damage, reduced ability to work, and great personal suffering. In a project, newdesign solutions have reduced harmful vibrations for several hand-held machines.The machines were tested in demonstration environments in the construction,stone, and steel industry. Preliminary results on the environments’ readiness forimplementing the machines in their production will be reported in this paper.The objectives were to investigate the awareness about vibrations and the levelof knowledge and acceptance of low-vibrating machines throughout the organizations. 28 interviews were conducted with persons on several organizationallevels in a large steel works, a quarry, two construction companies, a constructionmachine rental company, and a dental engineering laboratory. Interview resultsshowed that there was a great need for low-vibrating machines because it is theonly way to significantly reduce the vibration exposure. The results however alsoshowed a need for an increased awareness about the risks with vibrations andthat the understanding and acceptance for new machines is important. Communication between employees and between employees and management needs tobe strengthened. It is important to implement new low-vibrating machines in theorganizations through well thought through change processes.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Fisk, Karin
(författare)
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Health and safety management of hand-arm vibration : preconditions and outcomes
- 2023
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of the research presented in this thesis was to gain increased knowledge and understanding of aspects and actors that contribute to the preconditions and outcomes for proactive health and safety managementregarding vibration exposure. The main objectives were: 1) to investigate carpenters´ perceptions of the proactive health and safety management at their work sites, and 2) to carry out an exploratory investigation of the aspectsand actors that can influence the implementation of planned change processes in four industries regarding lowvibration hand-held power tools. Evaluations were conducted by means of field observations, a questionnaire and exploratory semi-structured interviews.Exposure to hand-arm vibration from hand-held power tools can result in the development of vibration injuries over time. Being afflicted by these types of injuries may have far-reaching consequences for the individual, for industries and for society. Many are affected by these disorders and among Swedish men, vibration injury is the most common compensated work injury. The obligations and rights of employers and employees concerning exposure to vibration are legally regulated. However, deficiencies have been seen in employers’ compliance with the vibration regulations. Several aspects and actors interact around this issue. Hence, a holistic and exploratory view is needed to determine the contributing aspects and actors that influence the preconditions for proactive health and safety management in order to reduce vibration exposure and injuries.The conclusions of the two studies were that companies could improve their knowledge concerning vibration, their awareness of the risks involved, their communication between employees, and between employees and management.Leadership has an important role in ensuring that information is provided on how to avoid harmful exposures. The understanding and acceptance of new tools are central, and tool manufacturers have a central role in ensuring that a range of low-vibration tools is available. Change processes must be well-designed where employees are involved and participate in the change in working practices. Only then can acceptance be created for the impact of new tools on working methods and craftsmanship, and the implementation can result in changes in a workplace culture where low-vibration tools are considered a natural part of the job. The research highlights the importance of improving the proactive health and safety management regarding vibration, and of raising awareness about vibration exposure and injuries in companies.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Tekavec, Eva, et al.
(författare)
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Adverse health manifestations in the hands of vibration exposed carpenters - a cross sectional study
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1745-6673. ; 16:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Despite EU regulatory standards, many workers suffer injury as a result of working with hand-held vibrating tools. Our aim of this study was to confirm whether carpenters, a highly exposed group, suffer more injuries to their hands than painters, a group assumed to be less exposed to vibration.Methods: 193 carpenters (participation rate 100%) and 72 painters (participation rate 67%), all men, answered a questionnaire and underwent a clinical examination to identify manifestations of neural and vascular origin in the hands. Neurosensory affection was defined as having at least one symptom in the fingers/hands (impaired perception of touch, warmth, or cold, impaired dexterity, increased sensation of cold, numbness or tingling, or pain in the fingers/hands when cold) and at least one clinical finding (impaired perception of touch, warmth, cold, vibration, or two-point discrimination). Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results: Neurosensory affection was fulfilled for 31% of the carpenters and 17% of the painters, age-adjusted OR 3.3 (CI 1.6–7.0). Among carpenters with neurosensory affection 18% reported interference with daily life activities, the most common symptoms being increased sensation of cold, numbness and pain in the fingers/hands when cold, the most common clinical findings were impaired perception of touch and vibration. Neurosensory affection was found in 12% of young carpenters (≤ 30 years old). No difference was found in the prevalence of white fingers between carpenters and painters.Conclusions: Carpenters showed more symptoms and clinical findings of neurosensory affection than painters, probably due to vibration exposure. Also young carpenters showed signs of neurosensory affection, which indicates that under current conditions workers at these companies are not protected against injury. This underlines the importance of reducing exposure to vibration and conducting regular medical check-ups to detect early signs of neural and vascular manifestations indicating hand-arm vibration injuries. Special attention should be given to symptoms of increased sensation of cold, pain in the fingers when cold, and numbness, as these were the most common initiating ones, and should be addressed as early as possible in the preventive sentinel process. It is also important to test clinically for small- and large-fibre neuropathy, as the individual may be unaware of any pathology.
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