VIBRATION AS AN OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD IN THE WORK ENVIRONMENT OF LATVIA

The aim of our study was to investigate vibration as an occupational health risk, conduct a survey and self-evaluation of health of the employees, carry out vibration measurements in different workplaces and to recommend practises for optimisation of work conditions. The results of analysis of employee’s questionnaires and of measurements show that the vibration risk factor is a very topical issue and has been underestimated, particularly in branches like manufacture of timber wood products construction, metal processing etc. The number of vibration-caused occupational diseases in recent years has grown both in absolute figures and as percentage of the total number of occupational diseases indicating that the ratio of vibration-caused occupational diseases in Latvia is growing.