NIOSH Evaluates Whole-Body Vibration at Military Base

A health hazard evaluation (HHE) report that recently became available on the NIOSH website describes the agency’s assessment of whole-body vibration exposures experienced by personnel while driving at a military base. At the time of the agency’s visit in July 2024, four vehicle operators were working eight- to ten-hour shifts. The base, which encompassed 339,000 square miles, had a mix of paved, gravel, and dirt roads. The vehicles had four-wheel drive but were not intended for off-road use.

NIOSH recorded whole-body vibration measurements for two days while the operators performed routine tasks, which included driving, loading, transporting, and idling. All measurements were less than the ACGIH action level, but the ratio of peak acceleration to the root mean square, known as the crest factor ratio, “indicated an underestimate of the vibration exposure and potentially more harm,” the report reads.

NIOSH recommended that the employer replace its vehicles with models that have advanced suspension systems and vibration-damping technologies, perform regular vehicle maintenance, and direct operators to avoid particularly rough or uneven terrain when possible. NIOSH also recommended speed limits for specific road conditions and the continuation of the employer’s job rotation schedules.

For more information, refer to the HHE report (PDF).