A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW ON COMBINED EXPOSURE OF NOISE AND VIBRATION AND ITS EFFECT ON WORKER SAFETY

Abstract

Exposure to noise and vibration remains a critical occupational hazard that affects workers across machinery-intensive industries, yet existing findings are dispersed and lack consolidated evaluation. This systematic literature review was undertaken to address this gap by examining how combined or isolated exposure to these physical agents influences health outcomes, safety performance, and risk management practices. The review applied the PRISMA protocol and conducted advanced searches in Web of Science and Scopus using the keyword string “Noise” AND “Vibration” AND “effect” AND “Safety,” focusing on peer-reviewed articles published between 2023 and 2025. From an initial pool of 1,149 records, screening and eligibility procedures resulted in 18 primary studies that met all inclusion criteria. The extracted evidence was synthesised into three thematic categories: (1) occupational noise–vibration exposure, health effects, and safety performance; (2) technological approaches, sensor development, and safety-oriented innovation; and (3) modelling, simulation, and noise–vibration mitigation strategies. The results show that workers in industrial, transport, maritime, and small-scale manufacturing sectors commonly experience exposure levels exceeding recommended limits, leading to musculoskeletal strain, sensory fatigue, cognitive disruption, and reduced productivity. Emerging technologies such as advanced sensors, machine-learning-based monitoring tools, structural simulations, and engineered materials demonstrate increasing potential for real-time detection and harm reduction. Overall, the review highlights persistent exposure challenges, uneven control measures, and the need for integrated engineering and organisational strategies. The findings emphasise the importance of systematic evidence synthesis in supporting safer work practices, informing regulatory refinement, and guiding future innovations in noise and vibration management.