NOISE AND VIBRATION LEVEL EVALUATION OF A TRACTOR IN SOIL TILLAGE

Vibration and noise may cause irreversible injuries to tractor drivers. This study evaluated the vibration and noise levels emitted by a tractor in soil tillage and compared results to conformance standards. An agricultural Massey Ferguson 4x2 tractor, model MF290, without cabin, was used, working with a plough and a disc harrow, at motor rotations of 1,700 rpm; 1,850 rpm; and 2,000 rpm. The noise evaluations were made with a sound level meter, at the driver position. The vibration evaluations were made on the driving seat, using an automatic acquisition data system with three accelerometers, in the vertical and horizontal planes. The results showed that the soil tillage service presented noise levels higher than the 85 dB(A) limit for 8 hours of daily exposure, as established by the Brazilian legislation on insalubrity. A need for hearing protection device use, by machine operators, was observed. In these operations, the vibration levels could compromise driver health, safety, comfort, and efficiency. The accelerations in the tractor displacement axle were greater than the accelerations in the vertical and transversal axles. KEY-WORDS: Ergonomics; occupational health; agricultural machines.