VIBRATION - 17.09.2020

Enforcement insights: hand-arm vibration

Useful knowledge

The HSE’s latest fully open document helps its staff to assess compliance with the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (CVWR) . It also helps them to decide what action to take when they find that things aren’t right (see The next step ). Thankfully, you can make use of it too.

Tip. Use this document to get your house in order. If you’re compliant, workers won’t get injured, and an inspector won’t have anything to gripe about.

Note. Hand-arm vibration is a hazard associated with the prolonged and repeated use of hand-held vibrating tools and equipment. It can result in vibration white finger or carpal tunnel syndrome, both of which are permanent disabling conditions.

Cause for concern

If an inspector pays you a visit, they are likely to take an interest in activities where exposure to vibration is quite significant, e.g. where staff are using chainsaws, grass cutting equipment or percussive tools.

In accordance with the guide, there is a series of considerations the inspector will work through:

Step 1. Determine exposure. The inspector will estimate daily vibration exposure based on two factors: (1) vibration data for the equipment you are using; and (2) the amount of time it’s in use. The vibration data might come from the HSE’s own files as it has gathered extensive information on this, whilst the “trigger time” will be worked out from your records or from conversations with staff and managers on site.

Step 2. Assess how well the business is managing the risk. At this stage the inspector makes sure the employer has carried out a risk assessment and taken steps to eliminate or reduce their employees’ exposure to vibration.

Step 3. Enforcement action. Inspectors will consider what more needs to be done to reduce or eliminate vibration risk.

Make their job easy

The most effective way you can keep an inspector happy and your workforce safe is by actively managing the risk. This means making sure you have met (or exceeded) your duties under the regulations including: (1) assess the risk; (2) take action to reduce the risk; (3) provide information and training to employees; (4) carry out health surveillance where a risk has been identified; and (5) keep a record of risk assessments, control actions and health surveillance.

Tip. Develop a vibrating tools policy to cover all of the above points and more (see The next step ). Our template document will help you work out what further work is required including the stages to carrying out a risk assessment.

Tip. The HSE’s guidance includes suggested measures which employers should implement to reduce the risk. In particular it’s worth a look at Appendix 6 of the guidance, which gives general advice as well as specific recommendations for use in fabrication workshops and construction.

For hand-arm vibration: Inspection and Enforcement Guidance and for a template vibrating tools policy, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk, Download Zone, year 19, issue 1.