Control of Vibration At Work Regulations

We carry out hand arm and whole body vibration assessments throughout the UK.  For a competitive quotation please call:

01524 222000

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

Further and more comprehensive details of the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 in regard to hand-arm vibration can be read in the HSE publications INDG175 and L140; in regard to whole body vibration more information can be read in the HSE publications INDG242 (and INDG404) and L141.  The following is a brief summary of the regulations.

The Exposure Action Value

The exposure action value (EAV) is a daily amount of vibration exposure above which employers are required to take action to control exposure. The greater the exposure level, the greater the risk and the more action employers will need to take to reduce the risk. For hand-arm vibration the EAV is a daily exposure of 2.5 m/s2 A(8); for whole body [WBV] it is set at a daily exposure of 0.5 m/s2 A(8).

The Exposure Limit Value

The exposure limit value (ELV) is the maximum amount of vibration an employee may be exposed to on any single day.  For hand-arm vibration the ELV is a daily exposure of 5 m/s2 A(8). It represents a high risk above which employees should not be exposed; for WBV it is set at a daily exposure of 1.15 m/s2 A(8).

The Regulations allow a transitional periods for various reasons allowing the exposure limit values to be exceeded during the transitional period as long as the employer has complied with all the other requirements of the Regulations and taken all reasonably practicable actions to reduce exposure as far as possible.

Requirements

 The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations require employers to

• assess the vibration risk to employees;

• decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure action value (EAV) and if they are:

• introduce a programme of controls to eliminate risk, or reduce exposure to as low a level as is reasonably practicable;

• provide health surveillance (regular health checks) to those employees who continue to be regularly exposed above the action value or otherwise continue to be at risk;

• decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure limit value (ELV) and if they are:

• take immediate action to reduce their exposure below the limit value;

• provide information and training to employees on health risks and the actions taken to control those risks

•  consult a trade union safety representative or employee representative on the proposals to control risk and to provide health surveillance;

• keep a record of the risk assessment and control actions;

• keep health records for employees under health surveillance

• review and update risk assessments regularly.

Give us a ring on 01524 222000 to discuss your requirements for an assessment.

For further information see Noisenet or the HSE websites.