hand arm vibration - iosh · acceleration to which the hand-arm are subjected if this is likely to...

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Hand-Arm Vibration

Hand Arm Vibration IOSH Chiltern Division

September 2017

[email protected]

07837 385 248

mailto:[email protected]

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VWf Legislation: Employer View

1974 HSAW Act

- work to be "without risk to health so far as is reasonably practicable."

Management of HSAW Regulations 1999

- employers must assess risks ... including from working with high vibration and take steps to control so far as is reasonably practicable.

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regs: 1998

- requires equipment is "suitable" for the job ....

HSE Hand-Arm Vib. Guidance (HS(G)88): 1994

- programmes of preventative measures and health surveillance were recommended where workers exposures regularly exceeded an A(8) of 4m/s2.

- VWf is reportable under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations: 2013

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2005 Regulations: HSE Approach

The guidance on the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations is available from HSE Bookshops

or a PDF version may be downloaded from HSE Publications free of charge.

www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/publications.htm

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The Sun

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High profile compensation claims include the following cases:-

• £200,000 fine + costs (2009) Newport Pipe Manufacturing Company + costs.

• £68K + Costs – Network Rail

HSE NOW ISSUING FINES BASED ON TURNOVER

+ non direct costs.

Compensation & Bad Press

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Tools & Risky Operations Include ....

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100 1k

Sensitivity of Hand to Vibration

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The Risk Factors

• daily vibration dose

- tool vibration amplitude and total "finger on trigger" time

• tool design

- ergonomics, weight ......

• tool use on any particular job

- access, position ......

• working conditions

- temperature, frequency of breaks

• individual susceptibility and habits

- genetic factors, general health, smoking

Suspect any process that causes tingling or numbness after 5 - 10 minutes continuous use

Personal behaviour has a very large impact on the health risk posed by any given vibration exposure

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Copyright 2006 Industrial Noise and Vibration Centre Ltd, Slough: +44 1753 698800: [email protected]: www.invc.co.uk

Using the

Manufacturers Data.

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CE Marking & Manufacturers Data

• From 1/1/96, no machinery can be sold in the EC that does not legitimately bear the CE Mark

• Conformance with the European Machinery Directive and display of the CE Mark requires maintenance of a Technical Construction File which includes vibration (and noise) information.

• Failure to comply is a criminal offence: machinery cannot be sold and prosecution could result in a fine of up to £5000 and / or imprisonment for up to 3 months.

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Manufacturer's and Supplier's Duties

1974 HSAW Act: section 6

- supply safe m/cs and information on safe use

Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, coming into force on 29th December 2009. As before, except that vibration levels will be vector sums

- m/cs must be designed to reduce risks from vibration (and noise) to the lowest level - particularly at source

- provide information on noise and vibration including weighted rmsacceleration to which the hand-arm are subjected if this is likely to exceed 2.5m/s2.

Note: the 2.5m/s2 is the vibration amplitude (vector sum) with the tool in normal use, not the dose averaged over an 8 hour day.

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This information provided by the manufacturers' is based on laboratory tests under controlled conditions. Most of these tests have little or no relationship to the way that the tools are used in practice.

You cannot use manufacturers' declared data for risk assessments except in rare cases. For example ...

Manufacturers' Declared Vibration Values

ToolSupplier

Data

Field

Results

grinder 3 5 - 12

damped

chipper<2.5 17

damped

riveter<2.5 8

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Taking a measurement

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Where to mount the

accelerometer?

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What are we

measuring?

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What do we do with the

data?

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5 m/s2

2.5m/s2

A(8)

Daily Dose

Exposure Action Value - EAV

Where exposure is likely to exceed

this Action Value:-

Implement a HAV management

programme to reduce exposure and

risks

Provide appropriate health

surveillance

Exposure Limit Value - ELV

Exposure must be kept below this

Limit Value

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Vibration Risk Management Programme

• Identify potential hazardous tools and operations

• Assess risks for tools and operations

- representative sample + published data

• Train managers, supervisors and operators

• Implement Risk Reduction Programme

- PPE, ergonomics, operating conditions, maintenance, engineering modifications .....

• Buy Smooth

- implement vibration purchasing policy

• Health Surveillance Programme

- where A(8) exposure likely to be > 2.5m/s2

• Audit Programme

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Hand-Arm Vibration

Personal Behaviour

"How can staff protect

themselves"

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A Complete Set of PPE ...

Hard hat, safety glasses, masks, earmuffs .....

But for Hand-Arm vibration ...................

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PPE for Vibration - a Myth

There is No PPE!• so called "anti-vibration" gloves generally have little or

no effect on weighted levels of hand vibration except in very unusual circumstances.

• gloves are useful to keep hands warm and provide physical protection - but "anti-vibration" gloves are thick and unwieldy

But ....• use conventional gloves to keep hands warm - plus

they are more comfortable and provide better ergonomics

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• Maintenance - keep tools well maintained & sharp

• Exercise hands during work periods

• Always report any Hand-Arm symptoms & attend Health

surveillance

• Smoking - don't smoke, especially before using tools

• Use the right consumable & tool for the job in the right way

(ergonomics)

• Report faulty, ineffective or poorly maintained tools

• Ensure you keep your hands as warm as possible

• Short breaks - multiple short breaks better than long ones

Summary of Measures to Reduce Personal Risk

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• Focus on reducing the Risk rather than spend all time and resources measuring

• Spend time educating Staff on reducing their Risks

• Only using Manufacturers Data

• Misunderstanding the purpose and limitations of equipment on the market

• Not taking representative and repeatable measurement

• Not coordinating and acting upon Health Surveillance feedback

Common Mistakes

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Hand-Arm Vibration

Hand Arm Vibration IOSH Chiltern Division

September 2017

[email protected]

07837 385 248

mailto:[email protected]

hand arm vibration - iosh · acceleration to which the hand-arm are subjected if this is likely to...

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