The Use of a Portable Computer for the Recording and Analysis of Hand-Transmitted Vibration

It is well-established that hand transmitted vibration causes various physiological disorders.However, it is; not known with any certainty which characteristics of the vibration are primarily responsible for each disorder.Current standards de ne means of reporting the sensitivity of hand-transmitted vibration and may imply that simple meters which coniorm to the standards are sufficient for investigation.It is suggested that it is highly desirable to determine the spectral, axial and temporal characteristics of vibration exposures in more detail than given by simple meters.This-will contribute to the growing understanding of human response and make it possible for measurements to be reanalysed as evaluation methods are improved.Since the measurement of tool vibration is not always simpleor reliable this additional analysis also provides a valuable opportunity to inspect the measurements and check their validity.A newly developed portable computer system provides appropriate comprehensive analysis facilities and can also be used to obtain measurements conforming to current standards.