Vibration

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Legislation has been introduced to protect the occupational health of users of equipment that cause hand/arm vibration (HAV). This will include many of the rotating and percussive hand-tools used in the construction industry.

Hand arm vibration is a widespread industrial disease that is a particular problem in the construction industry. The new regulations will set;

  • an ‘Exposure Action Value’ which, if reached, will force an employer to act to prevent vibration-induced ill health in those employees who use equipment that cause HAV
  • an ‘Exposure Limit Value’ which is the maximum level of HAV to which anyone may exposed.

Measurement of both of the above values will be based upon an 8 hour vibration ‘dose’.