5.8 Vibration - Hand, Arm And Whole Body
Control of vibration is regulated by the Vibration at Work Regulations
2005.
The exposure of hands and arms to high vibration can result in hand-arm
vibration syndrome (HAVS), a condition that affects a person's blood
vessels, joints of the hand, wrist and arm, nerves and muscles. The most
common kind is vascular disorder known as Vibration White Finger (VWF),
which is the result of impaired blood circulation with blanching of the
affected fingers and parts of the hand. Affected persons suffering from HAVS
can experience numbness and tingling in the fingers and hands, loss of
strength and sensitivity to touch and temperature and Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome. HAVS is reportable to the Health and Safety Executive under the
Reportable Injuries Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
Whole-body vibration (WBV), which may be experienced by persons on tractors and other motorised machinery, can cause severe discomfort and the risk of back injury.
Policy
The University will take all reasonably practicable actions to control hand-arm and whole body vibration on its premises and eliminate as far as reasonably practicable the risks of exposure to vibration to people within the University campus.
Legal Requirements
The University has responsibilities for the health and safety of its employees, students and others on its premise:
- Assess the daily exposure and risks from vibration to individuals where appropriate;
- Identify measures needed in order to meet the legal constraints on exposure to vibration;
- Review the risk assessments regularly and when there is any change in the exposure regime;
- Record significant findings and measures taken;
- Eliminate or control exposure to safe levels;
- Conduct health surveillance if necessary
- Inform, instruct and train relevant individuals
There are statutory Exposure Action Values and Exposure Limit Values for both hand-arm and whole-body vibration. If the Exposure Limit Value is likely to be exceeded health surveillance should be undertaken.
Responsibilities
The management and control of exposure to vibration rests with the person
who is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the equipment or
machinery.
However, the operators of any such equipment or machinery are duty bound to
bring any concerns regarding their health that may be affected by the
exposure to vibration from university equipment to the attention of their
line manager or supervisor.
Risk Assessment
In the situation where there is a potential exposure to hand-arm vibration or whole-body vibration, the risks need to be assessed to decide whether any further action is required. The Safety Office is available to provide advice.
Health Surveillance
Health surveillance is watching out for early signs of work-related ill health in those exposed to health risks, such as exposure to vibration. This is achieved by setting up an appropriate procedure. An example of health surveillance is the monitoring of the hands etc of individuals for hand and arm damage arising from exposure to vibration.
The health surveillance should be recorded, see Appendix A for health surveillance form.
References
The HSE have considerable guidance