Call Now - Free Consultaion

Call Now - Free Consultation

Hablamos Español

How do workers experience whole-body vibration?

Injuries caused by whole-body vibration (WBV) do not get the attention they deserve in California and across the country. Employers are responsible for protecting the health and safety of workers. However, they must also inform employees of all the known safety hazards they might encounter, such as WBV.

 

Who is at risk?

Employees whose jobs include frequent driving or operating trucks, tractors, buses, forklifts and other heavy equipment risk whole-body vibration. Furthermore, workers who stand on surfaces that vibrate due to heavy equipment operation could also experience WBV. Reportedly, it affects over six million workers nationwide, and various low back injuries have been linked to it. Interestingly, national and international safety authorities indicate that WBV could also cause motion sickness, fatigue and damaged vision.

 

How do employees experience WBV?

Drivers and equipment operators who sit in seats experience the vibration as it transmits from the floor, through the seat and then into the thighs and buttocks, ultimately causing vibration throughout the entire body. Standing workers experience the vibration from the floor, through their feet and legs, and then into their bodies.

Matters that affect the severity of the vibration include the frequency, magnitude, direction and duration of the exposure. What makes WBV particularly dangerous is that the body amplifies the vibration because the frequency of the vehicle’s vibrations is often at 4-8 Hertz, where human resonance occurs.

Employers can minimize the vibration levels by various administrative controls. Although employees in California who suffered work-related injuries are typically eligible for workers’ compensation benefits, WBV causes progressive health damage. For that reason, employers must ensure workers at risk of WBV are aware of it to keep a lookout for symptoms and seek medical care as soon as possible.


Fill Out the Form Below for a Free Consultation

Name(Required)
Preferred Language(Required)

get your
free case
evaluation

Los Angeles
355 South Grand Avenue Suite 2450
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Riverside
6670 Alessandro Blvd Suite H,
Riverside CA, 92506

Irvine
2030 Main Street Suite 1356
Irvine, CA 92614

Dana Point
34204 Pacific Coast Highway
Dana Point, CA 92629

San Diego
12636 High Bluff Drive Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92130

WE HAVE OFFICES ALL OVER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

WE ARE TAKING IN-PERSON APPOINTMENTS ON A CASE-BY-CASE AND ARE AVAILABLE
FOR PHONE AND VIDEO CONSULTATIONS, PURSUANT TO THE SAFER AT HOME ORDER.

Diefer Law Group, P.C.

Irvine

2030 Main Street
Suite 1356
Irvine, CA 92614

(949) 799-1860

San Diego

12636 High Bluff Drive
Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92130

(619) 728-3990

Los Angeles

355 South Grand Avenue
Suite 2450
Los Angeles, CA 90071

(213) 973-6142

Riverside

6670 Alessandro Blvd
Suite H,
Riverside CA, 92506

(951) 470-1862

Dana Point

34204 Pacific Coast
Highway
Dana Point, CA 92629

(949) 799-1534

Scroll to Top

Let Us Help!

Fill Out the Form Below to Book Your Free, No Obligation Consultation

Request a Free Consultation

Name(Required)
Preferred Language(Required)