Quebec ambulance workers have registered numerous complaints concerning vibration and shocks under specific driving conditions since the introduction of the GMC Top Kick ambulance. This project was undertaken to determine whether vibration exposure at various workstations in the ambulance was correlated to reported problems, and to evaluate the global behaviour of the ambulance’s rear suspension.

The results indicate that vibration exposure is most hazardous to workers seated on the longitudinal and lateral benches in the rear of the vehicle. Exposure at the six workstations evaluated was rated moderately uncomfortable to uncomfortable, with the rating dependent on the workstation’s precise location and the driving context.