Hand-arm vibration in the workplace

Hand- arm vibration is something that employees in certain manual industries can be exposed to, particularly if they operate industrial machinery, power tools or similar. If the risks are not addressed and precautions not taken, it can cause serious and irreversible damage to health.

Employers are obligated to ensure the health and safety of their employees at work as part of their duty of care. This means that employers should take every care to minimise and control risks to employee safety at work in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. 

Additionally, there are specific regulations in place that deal specifically with hand-arm vibration, namely The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. Employers should ensure compliance with the guidance set out in the legislation or run the risk of a potential legal claim from an employee, if they end up suffering from work-related ill health as a result of exposure to hand-arm vibration.

For more information and to ensure that your Health and Safety policies are legally compliant and up-to-date call the Health and Safety advisory team at Croner. Call today on 0808 501 6651.

What is hand-arm vibration? 

Hand-arm vibration is exactly as it sounds. Simply put, it is the transference of vibration into the hands and arms of workers. This transfer is usually caused by the operational movement of mechanical equipment, such as machinery, power-tools etc.

What are the risks associated with hand-arm vibration? 

Hand-arm vibration in isolated instances is not so much a cause for concern, however those workers who are exposed to it frequently can develop serious occupational health problems later down the line. Two of the most frequent conditions caused by overexposure to transmitted vibration are hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Hand-arm vibration syndrome

Developing hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) can be a serious and unpleasant experience. Some of the more common symptoms of HAVS include:

• A tingling sensation in the fingers
• Numbness in the fingers or parts of the hand
• A loss of strength, particularly reduced grip strength
• Blanching of the fingers (also referred to as vibration white finger or VWF), this entails the fingers going white, later red on recovery which can be painful.

These symptoms can reduce the employee’s ability to carry out work safely. For instance, numbness in the hands might cause the employee to not be able to determine temperature effectively which could lead to injury like burns or scalds. 

A reduction in grip strength could also result in injury due to not being able to hold equipment securely whilst in operation, whilst blanching of the fingers can cause pain and lead to problems with ability to work outdoors, particularly in cold or damp conditions.

Once developed HAVs is permanent, meaning it is a chronic condition that requires long-term medical care that may result in disability. 

Carpal tunnel syndrome 

Like HAVS, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can cause tingling, numbness, pain and weakness in the fingers, hands and wrists. This can cause issues with being able to carry out daily tasks safely.

In both cases HAVS and CTS can worsen over time and with frequent exposure, causing a host of additional problems that have an impact on the health and wellbeing of sufferers.

What is the law regarding hand-arm vibration?

According to the regulations set out in The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 employers should ensure that:

• Risks from vibration are controlled
• Provide employees with instruction, training, and informational resources on the risk and the necessary controls.
• Provide suitable health surveillance

The Vibration Regulations also include information on acceptable exposure, including the exposure action value (EAV) and the exposure limit value (ELV). This is based on a combination of the vibration at the grip point(s) of the tool, equipment and or the point of grip on the item (being machined etc.) and the time spent gripping it. The values are outlined as the following:

• daily EAV of 2.5 m/s2 A(8) representing a clear risk needing effective management.
• daily ELV of 5 m/s2 A(8) representing a high risk above which employees should not be exposed.

Employer duties are to reduce the risks to the lowest level reasonably practicable and reduce exposure to the lowest level reasonably practicable. As a rule, if the EAV is exceeded, exposure must not exceed the ELV, else this is considered a breach.

Complying with the Vibration Regulations is paramount in preventing disability through either HAVS or CTS. Some employees may begin to show signs of either condition at lower exposures, this is why health surveillance is important, so remedial action can be taken to prevent the worsening of the condition.

Additionally, you should consult either your employee representative or trade union safety representative when proposing:

• Measures to control risk
• Providing health surveillance

In certain instances HAVS and CTS must be reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).

The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations also outlines the responsibilities of manufacturers and suppliers when it comes to vibration. This includes providing health and safety information in equipment handbooks as well as listing the vibration emission in equipment performance literature. This is to get an idea to estimate vibration exposure, however this should be checked with the manufacturer or supplier.

As an employer, when purchasing equipment, you should ensure that you are supplied with the following from either the manufacturer or supplier: 

• Warning of any vibration-related risks from the equipment’s use
• Information on safe use 
• Training requirements where necessary
• Information on proper maintenance
• Information on the vibration emission of the equipment

Is my workforce at risk from hand-arm vibration related ill-health? 

If you think there is even a remote chance of risk from hand-arm vibration then you should conduct a risk assessment using a competent person. Whilst there are many jobs that can feature exposure to hand-arm vibration, the following industry sectors are particularly at risk:

• Construction and civil work
• Engineering
• Forestry
• Foundries
• Motor vehicle manufacture and repair
• Grounds maintenance
• Shipbuilding and repair
• Utilities, gas, water, telecoms etc.

(Note: this is not an exhaustive list.)

Similarly, if your staff work with certain tools and equipment then the risk of hand-arm vibration exposure increases exponentially. This can include tooling like: 

• Chainsaws
• Grinders
• Impact tools like drills and wrenches
• Sanders, polishers etc.
• Hand-held power saws for concrete, metal and ground clearance
• Scaling hammers including needle scalers
• Gardening equipment like lawnmowers
• Floor saw and floor polishers

(As before, this is not an exhaustive list and is merely provided as an example.)

The age of the equipment can also determine the amount of hand-arm vibration risk. For example, damaged and old tooling is more likely to pose a risk and even increased vibration levels. As well as this the usage frequency of vibrating tools can determine how much risk there is to health. 

Get expert advice on controlling risks involving vibration in the workplace

If you’re unsure about how to mitigate the risk involved with hand-arm vibration then talk to one of our dedicated health and safety experts today. We can put together a bespoke health and safety plan specifically for your business, from full audits to risk assessment using a competent person.
Don’t run the risk of a hefty fine, legal implications, tribunal or human cost. Talk to our expert team today on 0808 501 6651.