Health and Safety Executive

Health and Safety Executive

Control of vibration at

work

Dr David Smeatham

Noise and Vibration Specialist Inspector, Manchester.

HAND-ARM VIBRATION

There are few circumstances where control is not reasonably practicable.

Control often leads to better quality and increased productivity

Investment for the future

What is HAVS?

•Vascular

•Neurological

Regular long term exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV) disrupts blood circulation

Who is at risk?

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200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

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Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

• Assess

• Control

• Information, Instruction and training

• Check (including health surveillance)

Employers have a duties to:

There are few circumstances where control is not reasonably practicable.

RISK ASSESSMENT

The purpose of assessment is to enable management of risk

An assessment is adequate if it provides enough information to enable you to take the

most appropriate action.

Helps to target the highest exposure processes (biggest gain)

Rules of thumb

High risk Medium risk

More than 1 hour

More than 1 hour

More than 2 hour

More than 15 minutes

How do I estimate vibration exposure?

• Need vibration emission from the tool(s)

• Also time of exposure

• Combine to obtain daily exposure A(8) in m/s2

Getting realistic vibration data

• Ask your supplier

• Databaseshttp://umetech.niwl.se/eng/default.lasso

http://www.las-bb.de/karla/index_.htm

• Trade associations, consultancies, government

• Measurements (ISO 5349 parts 1 and 2)

www.hse.gov.uk/vibration

HAND-ARM VIBRATION EXPOSURE CALCULATOR

Vibration Time to reach EAV Time to reach ELV Exposure Partial Partial

magnitude 2.5 m/s2 A (8) time in min5 m/s2 A (8) time in minduration time in minsexposure partial expexposure

m/s² r.m.s. hours minutes hours minutes hours minutes m/s² A (8) points

Tool or process 1 0 0

Tool or process 2 0 0

Tool or process 3 0 0

Tool or process 4 0 0

Tool or process 5 0 0

Tool or process 6 0 0

Instructions for use: Daily Total

exposure exposure

Enter vibration magnitudes and exposure durations in the white areas. m/s² A (8) points

To calculate, press the Enter key, or move the cursor to a different cell.

The results are displayed in the yelllow areas.

Points

100 points-Action value-

400 points-Limit value-

Limit and action values

If A(8) is greater than

5.0 m/s² (ELV)

• Take immediate action to

reduce exposure below

ELV• Identify why ELV is

exceeded• Amend protection and

prevention measures(2007 or 2010)

If A(8) greater than

2.5 m/s² (EAV)

• Establish a programme of risk control measures

• Introduce a programme of health surveillance for those who remain above the EAV

• Info & training

(July 2005)

Hierarchy of control

• Elimination

• Substitution

• Engineering control

• Exposure management

• Information, instruction and training

Elimination

Elimination by design

Pile cropping

C(DM)

Eliminating the need for fettling

Substitution

• Is it the best tool for the job? (suitability and efficiency)

• Ask the tool users

• Is it low vibration?– Use manufacturers’ data

• Implement purchasing / hiring policy

Choose the right powered hand-tool

Engineering control

• Vibration reduction

• Better ergonomics

• Increased productivity

Exposure management

• Specify maximum exposure times

• May need job rotation

• Need to take account of– Productivity – what are you asking the

workers to do?– Communication– Supervision– Bonus!

Things you should always do

• Keep warm and dry– (assume anti-vibration gloves

offer no protection)

• Avoid Smoking

• Provide training– Risks/symptoms– Control measures– Correct tool use (grip/feed force)

• Keep equipment well maintained– Tools– Attachments

Health surveillance

• Workers exposed to greater than the action value (100 points)

• Tiered approach

• Top tier is a self administered questionnaire

• Referrals to competent person

Summary

• Start with a fit for purpose assessment of the risk.– Simple risk assessment– Target high risk processes for control

• Refine risk assessment

• Update and maintain control

• Information, instruction and training

• Health surveillance

HAVS is a preventable disease

Whole Body Vibration

Who is at risk?

• Very little need for concern about WBV in road vehicles

• Some concern for industrial trucks– particularly if used on inappropriate surfaces

• Main concern in off-road machinery:– agriculture, construction, quarrying, mining,

forestry, small fast boats, etc.

Control

• Driver– Drive slowly and avoid rough ground– Provide training (seat and cab adjustment)

• Vehicle– Right vehicle for the right job– Maintenance (tyre pressures, seats)

• Site– Traffic management– Maintain surfaces

Holistic approach to lower back pain

• Many issues with the nature of low back pain:

– High prevalence in the general population– Many causative and influencing factors

• Ergonomics• Manual handling• etc

– Symptoms not always synonymous with damage

– No dose-response relationship

Any questions?

Thanks for listening

www.hse.gov.uk/vibration