ABSTRACT
Whole-body vibration occurs when a human is supported by a surface that is shaking and the vibration affects body parts remote from the site of exposure. When a forklift truck drives over a bumpy surface, vibration is transmitted through the vehicle to the seat and footrest, which are the surfaces that support the driver. The vibration is then transmitted through the body of the driver to the head, which will move. This transmission path includes the seat; the surface of the driver in contact with the vehicle including the driver's nervous system; the skeleton, including the spine where an injury might occur; and ultimately the skull, which might have its own dynamic responses to the transmitted vibration. Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) as a discipline has grown in the automotive industry since the 1980s. For vibration protection, there are only two strategies available: either to reduce the duration of the exposure or to reduce the magnitude of exposure.
