Exposure of agricultural pilots to occupational whole-body vibration: The effects of runway maintenance and the stages of flight

BackgroundAgricultural pilots fly inside rural areas, usually, in runways without proper maintenance. Neglected runway maintenance contributes to increased exposure to shocks and vibrations. On the other hand, during cruise and spraying, the pilot is not exposed to the effect of the runway surface, and thus the exposure may be different.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to investigate the factors that may increase occupational exposure to WBV in agricultural pilots.MethodThe methodology used in this study consisted of evaluating the exposure of WBV according to the runway surface quality and the stages of flight for a sample of four different agricultural aircraft models.ResultsThe results confirmed that the magnitude of the vibration is significantly influenced by the runways surface quality and the stages of flight. This suggests the possibility to decrease the exposure to WBV improving runway maintenance and managing flight time.Relevance for the industryBased on the results of the present study, it was possible to define strategies to reduce whole-body vibration exposure and thus improve the working conditions of agricultural pilots.