Heavy Equipment Operators
Heavy equipment operators have unique risk factors for injury. Other construction trades have different risks. Unique to heavy equipment operators is whole body vibration, prolonged sitting and repetitive operation of controls.
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board keeps records on lost-time injuries of heavy equipment operators. Based on total injuries, the most affected body part was the back. Heavy equipment operators also have shoulder problems, stomach disorders and general fatigue with irritability.
The injuries that occur to a heavy equipment operator are caused by work position and whole body vibration. There are also injuries caused by environmental factors and psychological stress. It is a hard job being a heavy equipment operator.
Heavy equipment operators sit for extended periods of time. Sitting puts almost twice the pressure on the back that standing does. Sitting will flatten out the small of the back, increasing the pressure on the spinal discs and limiting their ability to absorb vibration.
Other causes also contribute to injury for the heavy equipment operator. Back and neck muscles work continuously to hold the head in position. This job is especially hard in the presence of vibration. This exertion of the neck muscles can lead to muscle strain.
Heavy equipment operators are at risk for injury because of long-term exposure to whole body vibration. Long-term exposure to whole body vibration can cause disc herniations and can accelerate degenerative changes in the spine. Degenerative changes in the spine leads to problems with abdominal pain and nausea. Whole body vibration has also been shown to increase the heart rate and blood pressure.
Heavy equipment operators are exposed to high levels of noise from heavy equipment daily. Clinical research has shown that excessive exposure to noise in the workplace induces hearing loss. Noise exposures on construction sites should be regulated but usually aren’t.
