northern environmental monitoring services
...for all your safety, health and environmental needs.
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 came into force in July 2005 and establish a means of preventing employees' exposure to two classes of vibration - Hand Arm Vibration and Whole Body Vibration which are defined as follows:
- "hand-arm vibration" means mechanical vibration which is transmitted into the hands and arms during a work activity;
- "whole-body vibration" means mechanical vibration which is transmitted into the body, when seated or standing, through the supporting surface, during a work activity.
The primary cause of hand-arm vibration injury is work which involves repeated holding of vibrating tools or workpieces. Where a risk assessment identifies hazardous jobs, a preventative programme should be introduced to control, so far as is reasonably practicable, any risk of vibration injury to employees. 
When considering the potential risks posed by vibrating tools, it is necessary to take into account both the vibration level(s) and exposure time(s) during the shift, which together contribute to the overall daily personal exposure. This is denoted as the A(8) level and is presented in units of acceleration. This is the 8-hour energy average vibration exposure which is equivalent to that received from all the tools used during the shift.
It is essential to distinguish between exposure time and usage time. The latter is taken to be the overall time required to complete a task requiring the use of vibratory equipment. The task time would include periods in which tools are not used, such as preparation, marking up etc. Exposure time (also sometimes referred to as "trigger time" or "anger time") is the total time for which the equipment is transmitting vibration to the user's hands. It is usually considerably less than the usage time.
Hand-transmitted vibration is expressed in terms of the acceleration of the equipment in contact with the hand. The figure given is normally given in metres per second squared (m/sē), e.g. 2.8m/sē. An employee's daily vibration exposure depends upon the size of this figure as well as the length of time that the employee is exposed to the vibration.
Examples of vibration magnitudes measured by HSE on equipment in use at work:
| Road breakers |
Typical |
12 m/s2 |
| Modern tool designs, good operating conditions and trained operators |
5 m/s2 |
| Worst tools & operating conditions |
20 m/s2 |
| Demolition hammers |
Modern tools |
8 m/s2 |
| Typical |
15 m/s2 |
| Worst tools |
25 m/s2 |
| Hammer drills/combi hammers |
Typical |
9 m/s2 |
| Best tools & operating conditions |
6 m/s2 |
| Worst tools & operating conditions |
25 m/s2 |
| Needle scalers |
Modern tool designs |
5 7 m/s2 |
| Older tool designs |
10 25 m/s2 |
| Scabblers (hammer type) |
|
20 40 m/s2 |
| Angle grinders (large) |
Modern vibration-reduced designs |
4 m/s2 |
|
Other types |
8 m/s2 |
| Angle grinders (small) |
|
2 6 m/s2 |
| Clay spades/jigger picks |
Typical |
16 m/s2 |
| Chipping hammers (metal-working, foundries) |
Typical fettling |
18 m/s2 |
|
Modern tool designs |
10 m/s2 |
| Pneumatic stone-working hammers |
Vibration-reduced hammers and sleeved chisels |
8 12 m/s2 |
| Older tools, conventional chisels |
30 m/s2 |
| Chainsaws |
Typical |
6 m/s2 |
| Brushcutters |
Typical |
4 m/s2 |
| Best |
2 m/s2 |
| Sanders (random orbital) |
Typical |
7 10 m/s2 |
The new exposure values specified in the 2005 Regulations are based over an 8-hour average (A(8)):
The exposure action value (EAV) - a daily amount of
vibration exposure above which employers are
required to take action to control exposure. The
greater the exposure level, the greater the risk and
the more action employers will need to take to reduce
the risk. For hand-arm vibration the EAV is a daily
exposure of 2.5 m/s2 A(8).
The exposure limit value (ELV) is the maximum
amount of vibration an employee may be exposed to
on any single day. For hand-arm vibration the ELV is a
daily exposure of 5 m/s2 A(8). It represents a high risk
above which employees should not be exposed.
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.
The Directive requires employers to:
- Reduce exposure to a minimum;
- Provide information and training;>/li>
- Assess exposure levels;
- Carry out a programme of measures to reduce exposure and provide appropriate health surveillance when exposure reaches the A(8) exposure ACTION value of 2.5m/s2 and to;
- Keep exposure below the A(8) exposure LIMIT value of 5m/s2.
NEMS can provide clients with a complete HAVS risk assessment package comprising:
- Identification of operations with the potential to expose personnel to HAV
- Indication as to the likely level of exposure to HAV for all persons exposed
- Measurement of vibration levels on vibrating equipment
- Illustration of methods for the continual assessment of HAV exposure in-house
- Advice on how to reduce HAV exposure
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 establishes two levels for employees' daily exposure to whole body vibration:
- the daily exposure limit value is 1.15 m/s2 A(8);
- the daily exposure action value is 0.5 m/s2 A(8).
Measurements should be carried out in accordance with ISO 2631-1:1997, which sets out a basic evaluation method of establishing a worker's A(8) exposure level.
If the A(8) action value is exceeded, control measures would be required, including reducing exposure to a level that is as low as reasonably practicable, providing employees with appropriate information, instruction and training and "consideration of:
- other working methods which eliminate or reduce exposure to vibration;
- choice of work equipment of appropriate ergonomic design which, taking account of the work to be done, produces the least possible vibration;
- the provision of auxiliary equipment which reduces the risk of injuries caused by vibration;
- appropriate maintenance programmes for work equipment, the workplace and workplace systems;
- the design and layout of workplaces, work stations and rest facilities;
- suitable and sufficient information and training for employees, such that work equipment may be used correctly and safely, in order to minimise their exposure to vibration;
- limitation of the duration and magnitude of exposure to vibration;
- appropriate work schedules with adequate rest periods; and
- the provision of clothing to protect employees from cold and damp."
Health surveillance may be required in certain cases.
NEMS can provide clients with a complete vibration risk assessment package comprising:
- Identification of operations with the potential to expose personnel to vibration
- Indication as to the likely level of exposure to HAV/WBV for all persons exposed
- Measurement of vibration levels on vibrating plant/equipment
- Illustration of methods for the continual assessment of HAV exposure in-house
- Advice on how to reduce HAV/WBV exposure
|
