Track: Human Factors and Ergonomics

Abstract

The prevalence of muscle fatigue among riveters and buckers in the aeronautical industry is predominantly linked to their significant exposure to excessive vibrations. Frequently surpassing the Daily Exposure Limit Value (DELV) of 5 m/s², these skilled workers are subjected to elevated vibrations. To address this concern, the present research investigates the influence of different riveting tools on vibration exposure and muscle fatigue. While prior studies have individually examined these factors, a notable gap remains regarding comprehensive and concurrent investigations. Therefore, further exploration is imperative to enhance our understanding of this critical issue and potentially inform the development of effective mitigation strategies. An experimental study with ten male participants equally divided between riveters and buckers was performed to achieve the objective of this study. The task consisted of setting five rivets in 30 seconds. Acceleration, EMG, heart rate, handle orientation, and perceived exertion data were recorded simultaneously from riveters and buckers. The perceived exertion (Borg scale) was used to measure participants' overall perceived exertion level. The results indicate that the combined spring dampener and tungsten bucking bar led to 24.46% less vibration than the tungsten or steel bucking bar. In addition, the riveter gun operator with a vertical handle position resulted in the highest mean % MVC of the bucker's biceps brachii muscle (61.11%) compared to the riveter using the gun in the horizontal handle position (30.84%). The results demonstrate the need to consider the type of gun and handle position in which the rivet gun operator performs the task to reduce the effects of vibration exposure and muscle fatigue experienced by the riveters and buckers.