Nancy Henry

HSENI Inspector

Lead Inspector for noise and vibration

content

� What is the problem

� What are the health effects

� Sources of vibration

� Legal requirements

� Sources of information

� Solutions

� Questions

Courtesy of OPERC

What’s the problem!

� What is hand-arm vibration?

� Hand-arm vibration is vibration transmitted into your hands and arms e.g. when you use hand-held powered work equipment.

� Too much exposure to hand-arm vibration can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome

(HAVS) and carpal tunnel syndrome.

• About 5 million exposed to HAV at work

• About 1 million exposed above ELV

• Greatest numbers in construction industry and

related trades but highest levels in Foundries,

stone masons and heavy fabrication.

Serious, disabling and costly …

… but preventable

Health effects

� Neurological component

� numbness, tingling, reduced

sense of touch & temperature

� main cause of disability in

advanced cases

Health effects

� Vascular component

� “vibration white finger”

� episodes of finger

blanching

� typically cold-induced

attacks

Health effects

Musculoskeletal component

Carpal tunnel syndrome

is a nerve disorder which

may involve pain,

tingling, numbness and

weakness in parts of the

hand.

What causes the problem

Vibrating hand held tools

Mixing plaster Nail gun

Chainsaw

Angle grinder

Hammer action tools

Stationary work piece e.g. grinding,

sanding

Stationery work piece e.g. riveting

hand guided machinery

� Plate compacter� rammer

Hedge cutters

Strimmers

IDENTIFY

• Do your employees regularly operate hammer action tools for more than about 15 minutes per day; or

• Some rotary and other action tools for more than about one hour per day

• You are also at risk if you hold work pieces, which vibrate while being processed e.g. powered machinery such as pedestal grinders.

ASSESS

� Risk assessment – exposure of employee

Legal limits

� Daily exposure limit value 5 m/s2 A(8)

� Daily exposure action value 2.5 m/s2 A(8)

Exposure likely to be above action value?

– Action plan to reduce exposure and start

health surveillance

Exposure above limit value?

– Immediate action

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

minutes continuous use.

Assess

�Magnitude of vibration

�Duration – trigger time

Interactive exposure spreadsheet on

HSE website

Points system to assess exposure

•All values are exposure

points

•Colours show exposures re.

EAV & ELV

Manufacturers data

� manufacturers are now working to new Standard tests written to address the requirements of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008

� new Standard tests are intended both to facilitate comparison of the vibration emissions of different models of equipment and to be suitable for initial estimates of exposure.

� You will still need to check with the manufacturer that the vibration emission declared in the instruction manual is representative of your normal use of the equipment.

CONTROL

� AT SOURCE

� Selection of work equipment: maintenance: positive purchasing policyLimit daily exposure: Job rotation: warm clothing

� Anti Vibration gloves “they are not particularly effective at reducing the frequency-weighted vibration associatedwith risk of HAVS and they can increase the vibration at some frequencies” (HSE website)

Reduce

exposure time

e.g.

•Automate

•Rotate

•Regular breaks

Reduce

vibration e.g.

•Mechanise

•Rigs, jigs & clamps

•Lower emission equipment

�Correct selection of equipment

�Correct operation of equipment -– especially

important with some vibration-reduced designs

�How to recognise (and report) symptoms of HAVS

�How to minimise risk (exercising fingers, keeping

warm, breaks from exposure, not smoking, etc.)

Information, instruction andtraining for operators

� Example – vibration reduced

breaker:

1. Keep the moil point sharp

2. Break a little at a time,

3. Don’t get jammed

4. Don’t force antivibration

5. handles

6. Stop breaker before pulling out

Operator training

Control – tool selection

• Vibration can be very

different between

tools

• An under-powered or

inefficient tool can

increase vibration

exposure

Tool selection – the balance

Larger tool

•Increased vibration emissions

•Increased stress on hands/arms

Smaller tool

•increased grip force

•increased exposure to

vibration

Control – keep hands warm

Temperature Problems

Air exhausts can cool operators' hands

which makes them more susceptible to

the effects of vibration. Cold handles

can also produce a similar effect.

Solutions

Scrap tubing and an old gauntlet were

used to direct exhaust air away

from the hands. Rubber sleeving can

also be used as insulation on metal

handles to keep hands warmer.

Control – tool selection

Vibration magnitude in m/s2

Time before daily exposure exceeds2.8 m/s2 A(8)

Daily exposure time

Daily exposure(m/s2 A(8))

Traditional

breaker design

(typical)

12 26 minutes 3 hours 7.3

New breaker

design

8 1 hour 3 hours 5

Control – maintenance chainsaw

anti-vibration rubber bushes

Control - maintenance

Vibration magnitude in m/s2

Time before daily exposure exceeds 2.8 m/s2 A(8)

Daily exposure time

Daily exposure(m/s2 A(8))

Before 9.7 40

minutes

2 hours 4.8

after 5.4 2 hours 2 hours 2.7

Control -Mechanisation removes the risk

� Machine-mounted pick replaces hand-operated breakers

Control

Removing defects in steel castings using a chipping hammer.

Sleeves cost approximately £5 each.

Control - rig / jig

Control - Demolition without vibration

� Use hydraulic crushers instead of demolition hammers

Control - power tools purchasing

policy

The cost

� Minimal as tools would be replaced at the end of their life anyway.

Control – purchasing policy

Vibration magnitude in m/s2

Time before daily exposure exceeds2.8 m/s2 A(8)

Daily exposure time

Daily exposure(m/s2 A(8))

Oldstrimmer

15 17 minutes 4 hours 11

New strimmer 4 4 hours 4 hours 2.8

Health surveillance

is vital to detect and respond to early signs of damage

Health surveillance is there to:

• Identify new employees whose health

may place them at greater risk,

• Protect existing employees from further

harm,

• Allow employers to identify how effective

their control measures are.

Health surveillance - when

HAVS

• Regular exposure above 2.5 m s-2 (A8)

• Irregular exposure above 2.5 m s-2 (A8)

but frequency and severity is a risk

• When Individuals already diagnosed

with HAVS

Health surveillance

•Important for HAVS because:

– Some high exposures may

be unavoidable

– there is no effective personal

protective equipment

Health surveillance - how

Tiers• Tier 1 Pre-exposure baseline

• Tier 2 Annual screening

• Tier 3 Clinical assessment

• Tier 4 Formal diagnosis

• Tier 5 Optional tests

How can I arrange health surveillance?

� Basic health surveillance consists of regularly seeking information about early symptoms of ill health by using a questionnaire. It may help you keep costs down if you carry out this function yourself, referring any positive responses to an occupational health service provider.

� Alternatively, you could ask an occupational health service provider to provide a complete service on your behalf. You should be able to find details of occupational health service providers from your trade association, your local telephone directory, the internet or EMAS

Further Information on Health surveillance

Health surveillance for HAVS – guidance for employers

Health surveillance for HAVS – guidance for Occupational Health Professionals

Health Surveillance QuestionnairesInitial screening questionnaire

Annual screening questionnaire

Clinical questionnaire

Further information - HSE

www.hse.gov.uk/vibration

Further information

Manufacturers handbook

Databases

� www.las-bb.de/karla/index_.htm� http://vibration.arbetslivinstitutet.se/eng/havhome.laso

o

� www.hse.gov.uk� www.operc.com

ANY QUESTIONS?