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08/06/2010
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UK industry must limit employees' exposure to hand-arm vibration caused by older equipment, in light of legislation effective from July this year.
 That warning comes from maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) products and services supplier Brammer, which points to the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.
That requires plant operators to ensure that their staff are not exposed to a daily 'exposure action value' above 2.5m/s2 or an overall exposure limit value of 5m/s2. Equipment purchased since that date must already comply with these limits.
However, for equipment purchased before 6 July 2007, the new regulations now take full effect from 6 July 2010 – and that apply to several equipment types, including hand-held powered tools.
Jeremy Salisbury of Brammer explains that excessive exposure to vibration can increase the risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), with symptoms such as vibration white finger (VWF). Companies should undertake a full risk assessment and, where necessary, change working methods and equipment to ensure compliance, he insists.
"Since 2005, companies have been able to allow their employees to use older equipment which may cause vibration above the level prescribed by the regulations, but older equipment must now be replaced if it does not comply," comments Salisbury.
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Author
Brian Tinham
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