Operator Fatigue & Whole-Body Vibration
Equipment operators sit for hours on bouncing seats while concentrating on heavy machinery. Fatigue slows reactions and causes errors, and years of vibration cause back pain. Both are safety problems, not just comfort issues.
- Operators
- Truck Drivers
- Supervisors
Fatigue
- Fatigue comes from too little sleep, long shifts, night work, heat, monotony and stress. See Sleep & Shift Workers and Driver Fatigue.
- Signs: heavy eyelids, yawning, drifting, missed signals, slow reactions, microsleeps and poor judgment.
- Fatigue is a hidden cause of rollovers, struck-by incidents and collisions.
What helps
- Get enough sleep (7 or more hours) before shifts; avoid stacking long hours for many days.
- Take scheduled breaks, get out of the seat and move. Stop if you feel drowsy: stretch, walk or take a short nap.
- Rotate between tasks and equipment where possible.
- Avoid heavy meals, alcohol and sedating medicines before work. Use caffeine in moderation as a short-term aid, not a fix.
- Supervisors should plan realistic schedules, limit overtime and allow people to say they are too tired. See Shift Work.
Whole-body vibration
- Rough ground, travel at speed and hard seats shake the whole body. Over years, this contributes to low back pain, disc problems and neck pain. See Whole-Body Vibration and Musculoskeletal Disorders.
- Risk rises with long exposure, jarring shocks, poor posture and twisting while driving.
Reducing vibration
- Use machines with air-suspension seats that are adjusted to your weight, and replace worn seats
- Maintain haul roads and work surfaces; slow down on rough ground
- Adjust seat height, back angle and lumbar support; keep your back against the seat
- Keep tires and tracks in good shape; use correct pressures
- Avoid twisting your back when looking behind; use mirrors and cameras. See Visibility, Mirrors & Cameras
- Do stretches and core exercises, and report back pain early
Standards & references
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