Hazard: Vibration
Vibration is a continuous series of small, fast movements around a point of equilibrium.
Prolonged and regular exposure to vibration can affect your health. Vibration can cause slight but repeated injury to blood vessels, nerves, joints and muscles
Exposure is associated with the use of powered hand tools (hand arm vibration or HAV) or the driving of mobile machines – such as tractors, fork lift trucks, earth moving machinery – on uneven surfaces for long periods (whole body vibration or WBV).
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) – painful disorder of the hands and arms. HAVS is preventable, but once the damage is done it is permanent.
WBV – causing musculoskeletal disorders – namely back pain.
Exposure to vibration is often linked to exposure to noise and both can cause permanent physical damage.
To protect employees, and to comply with the vibration regulations, employers need to assess the risks from vibration and plan how to control them.
Control: Vibration
To prevent harm from vibration, it is best to avoid using vibrating tools and find another way to do the job. If vibrating tools cannot be avoided, use should be kept to a minimum, regular breaks and job rotation are also recommended, and equipment maintained to help reduce the amount of vibration.
- Avoid
- Reducing use
- Maintenance