A possible basis for the risk assessment for hand-transmitted vibratio
n may be to determine the amount of energy absorbed in the human hand
and arm. In the present study, the mechanical energy absorption in the
hand-arm system was measured within the frequency range of 4 to 1000
Hz. The study was carried out on ten healthy subjects during exposure
to sinusoidal vibration. The influence of various experimental conditi
ons, such as vibration direction (X(h), Y(h), Z(h)), grip force (25-75
N), vibration level (8-45 mm/s(rms)), and hand-arm posture were studi
ed. The outcome shows that the energy absorption in the human hand and
arm depended mainly on the frequency and direction of the vibration s
timulus. Higher vibration levels, as well as firmer handgrips, resulte
d in higher absorption of energy. Varying hand-arm postures had only a
small influence on the amount of absorbed energy, while the constitut
ion of the hand and arm affected the energy absorption to a larger ext
ent.