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Executive
Introduction
Who should read this leaflet? See HSE leaflet INDG242(rev1) for guidance on
exposure to whole-body vibration.
You should read this leaflet if you are an employer
whose business involves regular and frequent use of: HSE’s priced book on hand-arm vibration will give you
more information on all the topics in this leaflet. (Due to
■ hand-held power tools; be published in autumn 2005, ISBN 0 7176 6125 3.)
■ hand-guided powered equipment;
■ powered machines which process hand-held Also see HSE’s vibration web pages:
materials. www.hse.gov.uk/vibration.
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Control the risks from hand-arm vibration
What health effects can it cause? ■ pain, distress and sleep disturbance;
■ inability to do fine work (eg assembling small
Hand-arm vibration can cause a range of conditions components) or everyday tasks (eg fastening
collectively known as hand-arm vibration syndrome buttons);
(HAVS), as well as specific diseases such as carpal ■ reduced ability to work in cold or damp
tunnel syndrome. conditions (ie most outdoor work) which would
trigger painful finger blanching attacks;
■ reduced grip strength which might affect the
What are the early symptoms? ability to do work safely.
Identifying signs and symptoms at an early stage is These effects can severely limit the jobs an affected
important. It will allow you, as the employer, to take action person is able to do, as well as many family and
to prevent the health effects from becoming serious for social activities.
your employee. The symptoms include any combination of:
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Which jobs and industries are most What kinds of tools and equipment can
likely to involve hand-arm vibration? cause ill health from vibration?
Jobs requiring regular and frequent use of vibrating There are hundreds of different types of hand-held
tools and equipment and handling of vibrating power tools and equipment which can cause ill health
materials are found in a wide range of industries, from vibration. Some of the more common ones are:
for example:
■ chainsaws;
■ building and maintenance of roads and railways; ■ concrete breakers/road breakers;
■ construction; ■ cut-off saws (for stone etc);
■ estate management (eg maintenance of ■ hammer drills;
grounds, parks, water courses, road and rail- ■ hand-held grinders;
side verges); ■ impact wrenches;
■ forestry; ■ jigsaws;
■ foundries; ■ needle scalers;
■ heavy engineering; ■ pedestal grinders;
■ manufacturing concrete products; ■ polishers;
■ mines and quarries; ■ power hammers and chisels;
■ motor vehicle manufacture and repair; ■ powered lawn mowers;
■ public utilities (eg water, gas, electricity, ■ powered sanders;
telecommunications); ■ scabblers;
■ shipbuilding and repair. ■ strimmers/brush cutters.
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Legal duties
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What is the exposure action value? What is the exposure limit value?
The exposure action value (EAV) is a daily amount of The exposure limit value (ELV) is the maximum
vibration exposure above which employers are amount of vibration an employee may be exposed to
required to take action to control exposure. The on any single day. For hand-arm vibration the ELV is a
greater the exposure level, the greater the risk and daily exposure of 5 m/s2 A(8). It represents a high risk
the more action employers will need to take to reduce above which employees should not be exposed.
the risk. For hand-arm vibration the EAV is a daily
exposure of 2.5 m/s2 A(8). The Regulations allow a transitional period for the
limit value until July 2010. This only applies to work
equipment already in use before July 2007. The
exposure limit value may be exceeded during the
transitional period as long as you have complied with
all the other requirements of the Regulations and
taken all reasonably practicable actions to reduce
exposure as much as you can.
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Vibration magnitude, m/s2
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12
10
8
6 Above the ELV
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You will need to identify whether there is likely to be a If there is likely to be a risk you need to assess who is
significant risk from hand-arm vibration. You should: at risk and to what degree. The risk assessment needs
to enable you to decide whether your employees’
■ find out from your employees and their exposures are likely to be above the EAV or ELV and to
supervisors which, if any, processes involve identify which work activities you need to control. You
regular exposure to vibration (eg processes could do the risk assessment yourself or appoint a
using the equipment listed in ‘Which jobs and competent person to do it for you.
tools produce a risk?’ or other vibrating
equipment); The person who does the risk assessment should have
■ see whether there are any warnings of vibration read and understood this leaflet, have a good
risks in equipment handbooks; knowledge of the work processes used in your
■ ask employees if they have any of the HAVS business and be able to collect and understand
symptoms described in this leaflet and whether relevant information. They should also be able to
the equipment being used produces high levels develop a plan of action based on their findings and
of vibration or uncomfortable strains on hands ensure it is introduced and effective. They will need to:
and arms.
■ make a list of equipment that may cause
vibration, and what sort of work it is used for;
Consultation ■ collect information about the equipment from
equipment handbooks (make, model, power,
It is important during this whole process to discuss vibration risks, vibration information etc);
hand-arm vibration with your supervisors, employees ■ make a list of employees who use the vibrating
and the trade union safety representative or employee equipment and which jobs they do;
representative. You will need to develop and agree a ■ note as accurately as possible how long
policy for managing vibration risks which will provide employees’ hands are actually in contact with the
reassurance to your employees about their job equipment while it is vibrating – in some cases
security and to explain why co-operating with your this ‘trigger time’ may only be a few minutes in
risk control measures and health surveillance several hours of work with the equipment;
programme will be in their best interests. ■ ask employees which equipment seems to have
high vibration and about any other problems
they may have in using it, eg its weight,
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awkward postures needed to use the tool, ■ hammer action tools for more than about 15
difficulty in holding and operating it; minutes per day; or
■ record the relevant information they have ■ some rotary and other action tools for more than
collected and their assessment of who is likely about one hour per day.
to be at risk.
Employees in this group are likely to be exposed above
the exposure action value set out in the Regulations.
How should I use this information?
Group your work activities according to whether they Do I need to measure my employees’
are high, medium or low risk. Plan your action to exposure to vibration?
control risks for the employees at greatest risk first.
Your rough groupings could be based on the following: The rough groupings described above should be
enough for you to do a basic risk assessment which
High risk (above the ELV) will enable you to decide whether exposures are likely
to exceed the exposure action value and exposure
Employees who regularly operate: limit value and to allow you to plan and prioritise your
control actions effectively (see ‘Control the risks’).
■ hammer action tools for more than about one
hour per day; or Alternatively, you may choose either to use available
■ some rotary and other action tools for more than vibration data or to have measurements made to
about two hours per day. estimate exposures if you want to be more certain of
whether the risk is high, medium or low. A more
Employees in this group are likely to be above the detailed exposure assessment may help you:
exposure limit value set out in the Regulations. The
limit value could be exceeded in a much shorter time ■ decide which control actions might be most
in some cases, especially where the tools are not the effective and practicable in reducing vibration
most suitable for the job. exposure;
■ be more certain whether exposures are likely to
Medium risk (above the EAV) exceed the action or limit values;
■ check whether your controls are effective.
Employees who regularly operate:
If you decide to do this, read ‘Estimating exposure’.
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Estimating exposure
You may be able to get suitable vibration data from the for you to use in estimating your employees’
equipment handbook, or from the equipment supplier. exposure. However, if the only information available
See Table 1 for examples of vibration levels HSE has to you is the vibration emission declared in the
measured on equipment in use. There are also some equipment’s handbook, it may be safer to double this
databases on the internet which may have suitable figure before using it for estimating daily exposures.
vibration data.
You also need to check, by observing them, how long
If you plan to use the manufacturer’s vibration data employees are actually exposed to the vibration (ie
you should check that it represents the way you use the total daily ‘trigger time’ with the equipment
the equipment (see ‘Duties of manufacturers and operating and in contact with the employee’s hand(s)).
suppliers’) since some data may underestimate Employees are unlikely to be able to provide this
workplace vibration levels substantially. Ask the information very accurately themselves. You could
manufacturer for an indication of the likely vibration observe and measure the trigger time over, for
emission of the tool when your employees are using example, half an hour and then use the result to
it. If you are able to get vibration data from the estimate the trigger time for the full shift. Alternatively,
manufacturer which is reasonably representative of where the work task is repetitive, eg drilling large
the way you use the equipment, it should be suitable numbers of holes in masonry, you could measure the
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trigger time when drilling several holes and multiply Workplace vibration measurements
the average by the number of holes typically drilled in
a shift. If you want to obtain vibration measurements for your
own tools you will need to arrange for a competent
If the employee is exposed to vibration from more person to carry out measurements for you using
than one tool or work process during a typical day, specialised equipment. Measurement results can be
you will need to collect information on likely vibration highly variable, depending on many factors, including
level and ‘trigger time’ for each one. the operator’s technique, the condition of the work
equipment, the material being processed and the
Once you have collected relevant vibration data and measurement method. The competence and
exposure times you will need to use an exposure experience of the person who makes the
calculator to assess each employee’s daily exposure measurements is important so that they can
(see HSE’s vibration web pages at recognise and take account of these uncertainties in
www.hse.gov.uk/vibration). producing representative vibration data.
Multiply the points assigned to the tool vibration by the number of hours of daily ‘trigger time’ for the tool(s) and
then compare the total with the exposure action value (EAV) and exposure limit value (ELV) points.
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How can tool and machine For most types of tool, manufacturers use
manufacturers and suppliers help? internationally agreed test methods for vibration
testing. These allow you to compare the vibration
Tool and machine manufacturers and suppliers are performance of different brands and models of the
obliged by the Supply of Machinery (Safety) same type of tool. Unfortunately, many of these test
Regulations 1992 (as amended) to design equipment methods do not represent the way tools perform at
which will reduce vibration risks to as low a level as work and vibration levels in the workplace may be
possible, making use of the latest technology. The much higher than those in this type of ‘laboratory’ test.
equipment should be CE-marked to show that it
complies with these requirements, and health and In some industries, employers’ organisations,
safety information should be provided in an instruction equipment manufacturers and hire companies have
book. This should include: adopted colour-coding systems to mark tools to show
which are high, medium and low risk. These ‘traffic
■ warnings about any vibration-related risk from light’ systems are intended to help users manage the
using the equipment; use of the tools to control risks from vibration.
■ information on safe use and, where necessary,
training requirements;
■ information on how to maintain the equipment;
■ a statement of the vibration emission (or a
statement that the vibration test has produced a
vibration emission of less than 2.5 m/s2)
together with information on the test method
used (see ‘Estimating exposure’).
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How do I control the risks from hand- ■ Select the lowest vibration tool that is suitable
arm vibration? and can do the work efficiently.
■ Limit the use of high-vibration tools wherever
When you have identified who is at risk, you need to possible.
decide how you can reduce the risks. You must do all
that is reasonable to control the risk. First, prepare an Example: To cut large holes in brickwork, use a
action plan for and deal with the high-risk work tasks. diamond-tipped hole-cutting drill bit with a rotary
Then address the medium- and lower-risk activities. action rather than a tungsten-tipped hole bit which
requires rotary and hammer action.
Risk controls include:
Purchasing policy for replacing old
Alternative work methods equipment and tools
■ Look for alternative work methods which Work equipment is likely to be replaced over time as
eliminate or reduce exposure to vibration. Your it becomes worn out, and it is important that you
trade association, other industry contacts, choose replacements, so far as is reasonably
equipment suppliers and trade journals may help practicable, which are suitable for the work, efficient
you identify good practice in your industry. and of lower vibration.
■ Mechanise or automate the work.
■ Discuss your requirements with a range of suppliers.
Example: Use a breaker attachment on an ■ Check with suppliers that their equipment is
excavating machine to break concrete rather than suitable and will be effective for the work,
using a hand-held breaker. compare vibration emission information for
different brands/models of equipment, ask for
Equipment selection vibration information for the way you plan to use
the equipment, and ask for information on any
■ Make sure that equipment selected or allocated training requirements for safe operation.
for tasks is suitable and can do the work ■ Get your employees to try the different models
efficiently. Equipment that is unsuitable, too small and brands of equipment and take account of
or not powerful enough is likely to take much their opinions before you decide which to buy.
longer to complete the task and expose employees ■ Find out about the equipment’s vibration-
to vibration for longer than is necessary. reduction features and how to use and maintain
the equipment to make these features effective.
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■ Make sure your organisation has a policy on increases in vibration (following the
purchasing suitable equipment, taking account manufacturer’s recommendations where
of vibration emission, efficiency and your specific appropriate).
requirements. ■ Do not use blunt or damaged concrete breaker
■ Train purchasing staff on the issues relating to and chipping hammer chisels and replace
vibration so that they can deal effectively with consumable items such as grinding wheels, so
equipment suppliers. that equipment is efficient and keeps employee
exposure as short as possible.
Example: If a breaker has vibration-isolating
handles, check how the machine must be operated Example: Check and sharpen chainsaw teeth
to ensure the reduced vibration levels are achieved regularly (following the manufacturer’s
in use and ensure your operators have the recommendations) to maintain the chainsaw’s
necessary training. efficiency and to reduce the time it takes to complete
the work.
Workstation design
Work schedules
■ Improve the design of workstations to minimise
loads on employees’ hands, wrists and arms ■ Limit the time that your employees are exposed
caused by poor posture. to vibration.
■ Use devices such as jigs and suspension ■ Plan work to avoid individuals being exposed to
systems to reduce the need to grip heavy vibration for long, continuous periods – several
tools tightly. shorter periods are preferable.
■ Where tools require continual or frequent use,
Example: Where a heavy grinder is used at a introduce employee rotas to limit exposure
permanent workstation to do repetitive work, times (you should avoid employees being
suspend it from a counterbalance system to reduce exposed for periods which are long enough to
the load on the operator’s arms and the tightness of put them in the high risk group (see ‘High risk
grip needed. (above the ELV)’).
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Clothing
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Health surveillance
You must provide health surveillance for all your Basic health surveillance consists of regularly seeking
employees who, despite your action to control the information about early symptoms of ill health by using
risk, are likely to be regularly exposed above the a questionnaire. It may help you keep costs down if you
exposure action value or are considered to be at risk carry out this function yourself, referring any positive
for any other reason. responses to an occupational health service provider.
The purpose of health surveillance is to: Alternatively, you could ask an occupational health
service provider to provide a complete service on your
■ identify anyone exposed or about to be exposed behalf. You should be able to find details of
to hand-arm vibration who may be at particular occupational health service providers from your trade
risk, for example people with blood circulatory association, your local telephone directory, the
diseases such as Raynaud’s Disease; internet or your nearest HSE office.
■ identify any vibration-related disease at an early
stage in employees regularly exposed to hand-
arm vibration; What should I expect from an
■ help you prevent disease progression and occupational health service provider?
eventual disability;
■ help people stay in work; A suitable occupational health service provider will
■ check the effectiveness of your vibration control have training and experience in health surveillance for
measures. hand-arm vibration. They should be able to:
You should consult with your trade union safety ■ advise you on a suitable health surveillance
representative, or employee representative, and the programme for your employees;
employees concerned before introducing health ■ set up the programme;
surveillance. It is important that your employees ■ provide the necessary training and supervision
understand that the aim of health surveillance is to for your staff if they are going to help with the
protect them from developing advanced symptoms of basic health surveillance;
ill health so that they can continue to work. You will ■ provide suitably qualified and experienced staff
need their understanding and co-operation if health to carry out the higher level health surveillance;
surveillance is to be effective. ■ provide you with reports on your employees’
fitness to continue work with vibration exposure.
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Health and Safety
Executive
Further information
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