Prevalence of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) among Tyre Shop Workers in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia

asraf ahmad qamruddin, Nik Rosmawati Nik Husain, Mohd Yusof Sidek, Mohd Hafiz Hanafi, Nizam Ali, Zaidi Mohd Ripin

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and severity of HAVS among tyre shop workers in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Method: A cross-sectional study involving 100 tyre shop workers in Kota Bharu, Kelantan was conducted. Data was collected by interviewing the workers using Malay Translated HAVS questionnaire and measurement of hand-arm vibration using Human Vibration Meter (Larson Davis HVM 100). The next phase measurements involved a set of hand clinical examinations (Purdue pegboard, Semmes-Weinstein Monofilaments and Two-point Discrimination tests). The workers were divided into high (≥5ms-2) and low/moderate (<5ms-2) exposure group according to their 8 hr time weighted average [A(8)] of vibration exposure.

Result: The prevalence of vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal symptoms was 16%, 47% and 51% respectively. This study has identified that the workers exposed to HAV above 5ms-2 have significantly higher risk of developing symptoms on neurological and vascular component.

Conclusion: There- fore, there is need for better control of vibration exposure, monitoring and reporting of HAVS among workers exposed to hand-arm vibration in this tyre shop.

Keywords: Hand-Arm Vibration, Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome, Tyre Shop Workers

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