Vibration


The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 came into force in 2005. They are based on the second EU Physical Agents Directive and aim to protect workers from risks to their health resulting from exposure to vibration transmitted to the hand-arm and whole body. The Regulations are now fully in force after a transitional period for the agriculture and forestry sectors expired in 2014. Daily exposure to vibration is measured by a formula known as an A (8) value. This is the average (A) exposure over an eight-hour (8) day and takes into account the magnitude of the vibration and how long workers are exposed to it. The rate of vibration of a tool or piece of machinery is measured in metres (m) per second (s) — its movement per second squared (m/s2). Suppliers must provide information on the vibration emission value of their equipment.


The regulations specify daily exposure levels at which employers will be required to take action to control risks, known as the “exposure action values” (EAVs), and where they must prevent further daily exposure, known as the “exposure limit values” (ELVs) (Regulation 4):


• for whole body vibration the daily exposure limit value is 1.15 m/s² A(8) and the daily exposure action value is 0.5 m/s² A(8).


• for hand-arm vibration the daily exposure limit value is 5 m/s² A(8) and the daily exposure action value is 2.5 m/s² A(8); and


The regulations contain schedules explaining how employers should work out their employees’ daily exposure to vibration. The regulations require employers to:


• eliminate or, where elimination is not reasonably practicable, reduce exposure to vibration to as low a level as is reasonably practicable (Regulation 6(1));


• introduce a programme of measures to be taken at the action values to reduce exposure to vibration to as low a level as is reasonably practicable (Regulation 6(2));


• take action at the limit values and stop the work on exceeding the limit values (Regulation 6(4));


• carry out health surveillance (Regulation 7); and


• provide workers with information, instruction and training (Regulation 8).


In December 2015, Merthyr Tydfil-based manufacturer Linde Heavy Truck Division Ltd was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £14,793.60 in costs after twenty one employees were left permanently injured after being diagnosed with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reported that in 2011 the company appointed a new health and safety manager who recognised the need to put measures in place to manage HAVS, including health surveillance. However, these measures had not been in place before and Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard how the HSE investigation showed there had been no recognition of the risks from hand-arm vibration and no effective management of the risks over many years. The HAVS diagnoses were reported to the HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations RIDDOR 2013 (see Chapter 10).