UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

Safety & Environmental Protection Services

Vibration

“The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005” requires the introduction of a formal programme of control measures when employees are exposed above a daily Exposure Action Value (EAV), and to prevent employees from being exposed above a daily Exposure Limit Value (ELV).  This means that Management Units are required to take steps to reduce vibration exposure, assess the risks from vibration and then take measures to control those risks.  The provision of information, instruction, training, and supervision along with appropriate health surveillance for any employee judged to be at risk is also a requirement.

For hand-arm vibration the Daily Exposure Action Value (EAV) is set at 2.5 m/s2 A(8) and the daily Exposure Limit Value (ELV) is 5 m/s2 A(8) maximum daily exposure.

This means that Heads of Management Units should ensure that:

  • Action is taken to assess all vibration risks to employees in the workplace (or using University equipment outwith the University) by identifying all hazardous machines, tools and processes (particularly those that cause tingling or numbness in the hands after a few minutes use)

  • An informed decision is made as to whether employees are likely to exceed the daily Exposure Action Value (EAV)

  • Where this is the case, control measures are introduced and the work planned to reduce the risk and exposure to the lowest practicable level

  • A further informed decision is made as to whether employees will exceed the Exposure Limit Value (ELV)

  • Immediate action is taken, in that event, to reduce the exposure to below the limit value

  • All types of working conditions are considered e.g. wet, cold

  • Where there is a risk to health or where employees are likely to be exposed to vibration a health surveillance programme is implemented and proper records kept

  • Sufficient information and training on vibration hazards and how to reduce them is given to all those deemed to be at risk

  • The risk assessment and action plan is regularly reviewed and updated where required.

HSE leaflet “Control the Risks from Hand-Arm Vibration” INDG175(rev2) can be freely downloaded from:   http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg175.pdf

Further useful information is available from the HSE Vibration website:  http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/