Use of Tungsten to Reduce Hand-Arm Vibration Exposure in Aircraft Manufacturing

Abstract

Rivet guns and bucking bars, which are used to set rivets during assembly of aircraft, results in high magnitudes of hand-arm vibration exposure, increasing the risk of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. The objective of this study was to identify rivet gun and bucking bar combinations that reduced vibration exposure and reduced muscle activity. A standard rivet gun and four vibration dampened rivet guns were assessed along with a traditional steel and vibration dampening tungsten bucking bar. Vibration dampened rivet guns resulted in lower vibration to “riveters”, however, use of these guns tended to result in higher vibration levels on the bucking bar. Tungsten bucking bars resulted in 34% less vibration on the bucking bar compared to the steel bar, as well as significantly less hand/wrist flexor muscle group activity. These findings indicate that to reduce overall vibration exposure, both the rivet gun vibration characteristics and the appropriate bucking bar material must be considered during a typical riveting operation.