Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton

Knowledge and understanding
Having successfully completed the module, you will be expected to be able to:

• Outline the effects of whole-body vibration (i.e., perception, comfort, motion sickness, performance, and health) and hand-transmitted vibration (i.e. vibration induced white finger and other injuries), identifying independent- and dependent- variables associated with the effects.
• Identify means of quantifying human responses to vibration (via buildings, transport, machinery, tools, etc.) using the relevant standards.
• Recognise dose-response relationships in humans and associated risks caused by human exposure to hand-transmitted vibration and whole-body vibration.

Cognitive (thinking) skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be expected to be able to:

• Understand and critically assess the assumptions inherent in methods of measuring, evaluating and assessing human response to vibration with reference to current national and international standards.
• Integrate knowledge of human responses to vibration into practical applications.

Practical, subject specific skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be expected to be able to:

• Measure the whole-body vibration and hand-transmitted vibration to which people are exposed.
• Evaluate the whole-body vibration and hand-transmitted vibration to which people are exposed.
• Assess the severity of exposures to whole-body vibration and hand-transmitted vibration.
• Recognise means of minimising/preventing undesirable effects of whole-body vibration and hand-transmitted vibration.

Key transferable skills
Having successfully completed the module, you will be better able to:

• Evaluate human responses to environmental factors.
• Contribute confidently and appropriately to discussions on similar topics.
• Use health standards related to hand-transmitted and whole-body vibration.
• Discuss vibration issues in a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Assess risk based on technical knowledge and legal requirements.

• To introduce you to human responses to vibration and how they can be predicted from measurements of vibration exposure.

• To identify relevant physical, physiological and psychological variables and how they can be combined to make quantitative predications of human responses to oscillatory motion (vibration, repeated shock, low frequency oscillation).

• Principles of the measurement and evaluation of human vibration exposures.
• Standards, limits and criteria for whole-body vibration.
• Health effects of whole-body vibration.
• Effects of whole-body vibration on activities.
• Discomfort produced by whole-body vibration.
• Vehicle ride evaluation.
• Vibration thresholds.
• Building vibration.
• Biodynamics.
• Seating dynamics.
• Health effects of hand-transmitted vibration.
• Epidemiology of disorders associated with hand-transmitted vibration.
• Diagnosis of disorders caused by hand-transmitted vibration.
• Standards, limits and criteria for hand-arm vibration.
• Measurement and evaluation of hand-tool vibration.
• Causes of motion sickness in marine, land and air transport.
• Preventative measures for whole-body and hand-arm vibration.

Twelve double lectures over four consecutive days.

Lecturers and assistants available to assist students work through the individual exercises (assignments) provided. Discussion takes place during each lecture. One formal tutorial session is allocated during the course programme.

Four formal assignments selected from six (about 2000 words each) that are submitted 6 to 8 weeks after completion of the course. The assignments cover the main areas of the subject matter. You will be expected to cite and reference supporting texts.

Core text

Handbook of Human Vibration, 1990, M J Griffin, Academic Press
0123030404