Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 are set of regulations created under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 which came into force in Great Britain on 6 July 2005.[1] The Regulations place a duty on employers to reduce the risk to their employees’ health from exposure to vibration whether this is caused by the use of hand-held or hand-guided power equipment, holding materials which are being processed by machines or which is caused by the sitting or standing on industrial machines or vehicles.[2]

Contents

Vibration in the workplace

The regulations require employers to identify which of their employee's may be at risk from Hand Arm Vibration disorders (HAV) or whole body vibration disorders (WBV)[3] Hand Arm Vibration disorders can be caused by the use of hand-held power tools and can cause painful and disabling disorders of the blood vessels, nerves and joints.[4] The risk of suffering from a disorder is increased dependent on the exposure to vibration and can vary widely between individuals. The symptoms, which affect the blood supply, to the fingers are also known as vibration-induced white finger.[5] Whole Body Vibration is vibration which is transmitted via the seat when sitting down in a vehicle or machine or through the feet. Drivers of certain tractors, fork lift trucks, quarrying or earth moving machinery could be exposed to WBV which could lead to back pain.[6]

Exposure to vibration

Section 4 of the regulations details the 'exposure limit values and action values' for both HAV and WBV.[7] The regulations require employers to make an assessment of exposure in order to identify whether the 'exposure action value' or the 'exposure limit value' is likely to be exceeded. The 'exposure action value' is the daily level, after which employers are required to take action to control exposure. The 'exposure limit value' is the maximum amount that an employee can be exposed to in a day.[8] The values are measured using a formula which works out the average (A) exposure over an 8 hour day. The values are therefore written as A(8). The rate of vibration of a tool or piece of machinery is then measured in metres (m) per second (s) and written as m/s².[9] In order to help employers calculate the exposure levels using the formula, the Health and Safety executive created an exposure calculator.[10]

Table of exposure limits

daily Exposure Action Value[7] Daily Exposure Limit Value[7]
Hand Arm Vibration 2.5 m/s² A(8) 5 m/s² A(8)
Whole Body Vibration 0.5 m/s² A(8) 1.15 m/s² A(8)

Risk Assessment

Regulation 5 requires any employer who exposes employees' to risk from vibration to make a 'suitable and sufficient' assessment of that risk.[11] In terms of conducting the risk assessment, an employer is required to assess the daily exposure to vibration by means of consultation with employees' about which processes might involve regular exposure to vibration; checking equipment handbooks to see whether they contain any warnings about exposure to vibration when using equipment and determining whether any employees' are showing any symptoms symptomatic of hand arm vibration.[12] The risk assessment should identify people who would be at particular risk from vibration and should be conducted by someone who has a good knowledge of the work processes within the business.[12] Consideration should be given to the magnitude, type and duration of exposure; the effects of exposure to vibration on employees whose health is at particular risk from such exposure; effects of vibration on the workplace and work equipment; any information provided by the manufacturers of the equipment; the availability of replacement equipment designed to reduce exposure to vibration; any extension of exposure at the workplace to whole-body vibration beyond normal working hours, including exposure in rest facilities supervised by the employer; specific working conditions such as low temperatures; and appropriate information obtained from health surveillance including, where possible, published information.[11]

Health Surveillance

Should the risk assessment indicate that there is a risk to health due to exposure to vibration then employers should place employees' under health surveillance with the intention of preventing or diagnosing any health effect that might result from exposure. Should, as a result of health surveillance, an employee show signs of any adverse health effect considered to have resulting from exposure to vibration then the employer should provide the employee with information and advice and further review the risk assessment. Consideration should also be given to assigning the employee alternative work where there would be no risk from further exposure to vibration.[13]

Prosecutions arising from the regulations

On 21 January 2011 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced the successful prosecution of Cheshire East council after a maintenance worker suffered a permanent loss of movement to his hands.[14] The worker, a mechanic, had since 1984 regularly used machines such as pneumatic drills and hand-held grinders. Despite being identified as having the early stages of hand arm vibration syndrome in July 2005, the worker was reassessed in 2006 and then no further assessment was made until 2009.[14] The court heard that the employee now had difficulty picking up small objects and that his hands became very painful in cold weather. The council was fined £5,300 and ordered to pay £5,860 costs at South cheshire magistrates court.[14] Chris Goddard, the investigating officer from the HSE said "The worker was first diagnosed as developing hand arm vibration syndrome in 2005 but the council failed to take any significant action for nearly four years to stop the condition getting worse".[14] He added "It should have limited the amount of time he spent using vibrating equipment, or provided alternative tools. Instead, he was allowed to continue with his job without any changes...If this action had been taken, the worker's condition could have been prevented from becoming serious. Instead, he has suffered a permanent loss of movement to his hands."[14]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vibration white finger — (also known as hand arm vibration syndrome and dead finger[1]) is a secondary form of Raynaud s syndrome, an industrial injury triggered by continuous use of vibrating hand held machinery. Use of the term Vibration White Finger has generally been …   Wikipedia

  • List of Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland, 2005 — This is an incomplete list of Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland in 2005.1 100* Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 S.R. 2005 No. 1 * Employer s Liability (Compulsory Insurance) (Amendment) Regulations… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Statutory Instruments of the United Kingdom, 2007 — This is an incomplete list of Statutory Instruments of the United Kingdom in 2007. NOTOC 1 100* Cider and Perry and Wine and Made wine (Amendment) Regulations 2007 S.I. 2007/4 * Customs and Excise (Personal Reliefs for Special Visitors)… …   Wikipedia

  • Noise dosimeter — A noise dosimeter (American) or noise dosemeter (British) is a specialized sound level meter intended specifically to measure the noise exposure of a person integrated over a period of time; usually to comply with Health and Safety regulations… …   Wikipedia

  • Earthquake engineering — is the study of the behavior of buildings and structures subject to seismic loading. It is a subset of both structural and civil engineering.The main objectives of earthquake engineering are: * Understand the interaction between buildings or… …   Wikipedia

  • automobile — automobilist /aw teuh meuh bee list, moh bi list/, n. /aw teuh meuh beel , aw teuh meuh beel , aw teuh moh beel, beuhl/, n. 1. a passenger vehicle designed for operation on ordinary roads and typically having four wheels and a gasoline or diesel… …   Universalium

  • Radio-frequency identification — (RFID) is a technology that uses radio waves to transfer data from an electronic tag, called RFID tag or label, attached to an object, through a reader for the purpose of identifying and tracking the object. Some RFID tags can be read from… …   Wikipedia

  • Metrology — This article is about the science of measurement. For the study of weather see Meteorology. A scientist stands in front of a microarcsecond (1 millionth of 1 arcsecond or 1 millionth of 1/3600 degree) testbed. Metrology is the science of… …   Wikipedia

  • Harley-Davidson — Type Public company Traded as NYSE: HOG …   Wikipedia

  • Chevrolet Vega — 1972 Chevrolet Vega GT Hatchback Coupe Manufacturer Chevrolet Division of General Motors Also called Vega 2300 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”