Industrial worker
17 Mar
SF Hire & Analytics

Are you considering the impact of Hand Arm Vibration on your employees?

Using a handheld power tool for a significant amount of time can have serious health effects if not controlled and monitored carefully.

The Health and Safety Executive proposes guidelines based around The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (the Vibration Regulations), which aim to protect workers from risks to health from vibration. The regulations introduce action and limit values for hand-arm and whole-body vibration.

Hand-arm vibration can cause a range of conditions under the umbrella of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), as well as specific diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Employees who use these tools on a regular basis are susceptible, and failure to adequately protect them could have a significant impact on your workforce.

Employees with these potential conditions are likely to take long-term sick, or may even take legal action against you if they have not been adequately protected.

The HSE guidelines for employers state that:

  • You should decide if employees are likely to be exposed above the:
    • Daily exposure action value (EAV) and if they are:
      introduce a programme of controls to eliminate risk, or reduce exposure to as low a level as is reasonably practicable;
    • Daily exposure limit value (ELV) and if they are:
      take immediate action to reduce their exposure below the limit value;
  • Make sure the legal limits on vibration exposureare not exceeded;
  • Provide information and trainingto employees on health risks and the actions you are taking to control those risks;
  • Carry out health surveillance(regular health checks) where there is a risk to health.

It’s therefore vital that you have properly assessed this area. Safety First Group technicians are highly-qualified and experienced in assessing your workplace for risks and proposing measures for eliminating or minimising these risks.

To learn more about Hand Arm Vibration Assessment, please visit https://www.safetyfirstgroup.co.uk/services/hand-arm-vibration-assessment/ . Alternatively, please call 0845 004 2133 or email enquiries@safetyfirstgroup.co.uk .