POWER TOOLS:how to reduce vibration health r i s k s

GUIDE FOR EMPLOYERS

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What is this leaflet about?It explains how to select hand-held power tools to reduce the risks of

vibration-related diseases.

Who is it for?Read this leaflet if your company uses hand-held or hand-guided power

tools and machinery.

How will it help you?It will help you to:

▼ know what information to expect from power tool manufacturers,

importers or suppliers (including tool hire companies) about the risks

from vibration;

▼ understand how to use vibration data and other information to choose

power tools with the lowest vibration risk to your employees;

▼ understand what your legal duties are when your employees are exposed

to hand-arm vibration;

▼ select the most suitable power tools for your business.

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Vibrating power tools - preventing vibration injuriesThere are millions of hand-held power tools in use in many industries across Britain from

agriculture to shipbuilding and from construction to quarrying. Power tools transmit

vibration (known as hand-arm vibration or HAV) into the hands and arms of the operator.

Exposing your employees regularly to high magnitudes of HAV may put them at risk of a

range of disabling diseases collectively known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).

What are the health risks from HAV?Diseases which are caused by regular exposure to HAV include:

▼ vibration white finger;

▼ carpal tunnel syndrome;

▼ permanent and painful numbness and tingling in the hands and arms;

▼ painful joints and muscle weakening;

▼ damage to bones in the hands and arms.

How many people are affected? In Britain there are:

▼ five million users of hand-held or hand-guided power tools;

▼ over one million users who are at increased risk of disease because they are

exposed to HAV above the action level set by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE);

▼ 300 000 people estimated to have advanced symptoms of vibration white finger.

The magnitude of vibration can vary according to the type and model of tool and

materials being worked. Avoiding high vibration tools is a big step towards reducing

your employees’ exposure to vibration.

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Older tools tend to produce more vibration than modern tools - many modern tools have

been specifically designed to reduce HAV. But simply buying a new power tool may not solve

the problem - if the tool you choose is not suitable for the job you want to do, it could

increase the risk.

What are your duties as a power tool user?You have general duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to assess the risks from using

power tools and to reduce them so far as is reasonably practicable. The Provision and Use

of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 also apply.

The power tool you select must be:

▼ suitable for the work it is intended to do and the conditions in which it will be used;

▼ used only for operations and in conditions for which it is suitable;

▼ designed and constructed so as to reduce the risk from vibration;

▼ used only by workers trained to use it safely;

▼ properly maintained throughout its working life to sustain its best vibration performance.

You should also:

▼ consult with your safety or employee representatives on your procedure for safe tool

purchase;

▼ provide information and training on safe use and proper maintenance of the power

tool to supervisors and workers who will use and maintain it;

▼ monitor the use of the tools to ensure that they are being used correctly, only by

trained staff and are being maintained in good condition.

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Taking these actions will also help you comply with a proposed new European Directive

on vibration which, if adopted, will specifically require systematic control of exposure

to HAV across Europe and which is likely to set a limit above which workers may not

be exposed.

Buying tools - how can manufacturers and suppliers help you?Power tool manufacturers (and importers, suppliers and tool hire firms) can help you

select the most suitable and safest tools for your particular needs. They can provide

useful information and advice about tool vibration, selection and management. They

have a duty to help you with information on managing vibration risks that they have

been unable to eliminate by design.

Anyone supplying power tools for use in the UK must comply with the Supply of

Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (as amended).

Summary of the legal duties of power tool suppliers,manufacturers, importers and hire companies▼ Power tools must be designed and constructed so as to reduce risks from vibration

to the lowest level possible making use of technological progress.

▼ An instruction book must accompany power tools and it must include:

● warnings about any vibration-related health and safety risks from using the

t o o l ;

● information on the limit of safe use;

● either a statement of the vibration level or a statement that the vibration test has

produced a vibration emission value below 2.5 m/s2 (units are explained overleaf).

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Sources of helpful vibration dataManufacturers are obliged to report vibration data in the instruction book. Other

sources of vibration data useful in confirming likely workplace levels include: specialist

vibration consultants; trade associations; and government bodies. Data can also be

found in technical or scientific publications and on the Internet.

What do the units of measurement mean?Vibration magnitude is usually described in terms of acceleration. During

vibration a point will accelerate (and decelerate) rapidly as it moves one way

and then back again. Acceleration can be measured with an accelerometer. The

unit of measurement is metres per second per second (m/s2).

Vibration magnitude can be measured over three axes (ie forward-back, up-down

and side-to-side). Exposure can be quoted as either the highest value of the three

axes measured (the dominant axis) or as a sum of the three axes measured.

Using vibration dataHSE currently advises employers that they need to take action to protect

employees from HAV risks when daily exposure exceeds 2.8 m/s2 A(8) in the

dominant axis. This would be about 4 m/s2 A(8) if the sum of the axes were

quoted. The higher the exposure measurement the greater the risk. Information

on assessing exposure to vibration and the method for calculating total

exposure for workers who use more than one type of tool in a day is described

in HSE’s booklet Hand-arm vibration (HSG88 ISBN 0 7176 0743 7).

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Manufacturers’ vibration data For most types of tool, internationally agreed test codes exist which set out

specific methods for vibration testing. These allow you to compare the vibration

performance of different brands and models of the same type of tool.

Unfortunately, many of these test codes do not represent the way tools perform

at work and vibration levels in the workplace may be much higher than those

occurring in this type of ‘laboratory’ test. Even so, tool manufacturers’

instructions must inform users of residual risks, safe use and, where necessary,

training instructions.

Some types of tool do not yet have their own test code. In these cases the

manufacturer must use general vibration test standards and choose operating

conditions that produce vibration levels found at work. The methods and

conditions of the test should be described in the instructions. Comparisons of

different brands of power tool using data from these vibration measurements

should be made with care because the manufacturers’ chosen operating

conditions may not be identical.

Two values are usually reported: a (the average measured value) and K ( t h e

uncertainty). In some cases K can be more than 40% of the measured emission

and is often several m/s2. The difference between the a values for two tools should

not be considered significant if it is smaller than one of the quoted K v a l u e s .

Note: It may not be essential to choose the tool with the lowest vibration but itmust be safe and suitable for the particular task - just aim to avoid tools withabove average vibration.

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Why is vibration data important?Vibration data can tell you how much vibration is likely to enter a person’s hands when

using a particular power tool. This is useful to help you to:

▼ choose between high, medium and low risk tools;

▼ consider the differences in vibration of several tools which are in other respects

suitable for the particular task;

▼ identify the range in likely vibration levels when a tool is used for different tasks

or materials;

▼ make an assessment of risk;

▼ decide if you should limit the time employees spend on some tasks in any one day.

How do I use the manufacturer’s data?The vibration data provided with the tools should help you to:

▼ select from suitable tools based on differences in vibration magnitude between

models of the same type of tool; and

▼ give you an idea of the most likely variation for different tasks and operators.

But remember:

▼ to make your final choice you will need to check likely vibration magnitudes for

your intended use(s) and that the tool is generally suitable;

▼ if particular uses of the tool are likely to cause unusually high vibration there

should be a warning in the instruction book;

▼ where manufacturers declare in their instruction books that their tool produces

‘less than 2.5 m/s 2’ you should ask if these are likely workplace levels.

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Other important factors in choosing toolsVibration emission is important in choosing power tools but there are other factors you

should consider:

▼ Could the work be done safely and effectively without using hand-held power tools?

If not:

▼ Is the tool suitable for the task?

▼ Ask about vibration reduction features. Do they need maintenance to remain

effective? Do they reduce tool efficiency?

▼ Can the supplier offer technical support, eg advice on using the equipment for specific

tasks, using the equipment safely, maintaining the equipment in good condition?

▼ Consider ergonomic factors such as:

● tool weight;

● handle design/comfort;

● grip force needed;

● ease of use/handling;

● cold from grips or exhausts on compressed air tools.

▼ Consider risks from other hazards, eg:

● noise;

● dust.

▼ Are manufacturers able to loan sample tools on trial? If so, take account of your

employees’ preferences based on practical trials.

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Managing tool useHaving selected the most suitable tool for the work you should manage its safe use:

▼ Consider the information/advice you have on risks and how to control them.

▼ Work out daily time limits to do jobs and keep risks low.

▼ Modify workstations (if necessary) to ensure good ergonomic tool use.

▼ Discuss/agree with supervisors, safety representatives and users how the tool is to

be used safely including maximum daily use.

▼ Provide instructions to supervisors/users.

▼ Provide training on safe use.

▼ Limit use to trained operators only.

▼ Set up maintenance and replacement programmes for tools and their consumables

(eg chisels).

▼ Monitor and review these actions regularly.

Other guidance from tool manufacturersThe tool manufacturer should also provide you with information on:

▼ operator training requirements to avoid health and safety risks from vibration;

▼ intended and appropriate use(s) of the tool;

▼ a tool maintenance programme to sustain low vibration performance;

▼ whether particular protective equipment is required when using the tool in compliance

with the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. (Tool manufacturers

should not recommend the use of anti-vibration gloves unless they have been shown to

provide protection according to the requirements of these Regulations. Gloves may help

prevent injury by keeping hands warm and dry. )

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Further readingReducing risk of hand-arm vibration injury from hand-held power tools HSE

Information Document 246/31 (A companion to this leaflet which provides detailed

technical advice on manufacturers’ vibration data. Available free from HSE Offices -

see telephone directory.)

Health risks from hand-arm vibration: Advice for employers INDG175(rev1)

HSE Books 1998 (Single copy free or priced packs of 10 ISBN 0 7176 1553 7)

Buying new machinery: A short guide to the law and some information on what to

do for anyone buying new machinery at work INDG271 HSE Books 1998

(Single copy free or priced packs of 15 ISBN 0 7176 1559 6)

Hand-arm vibration HSG88 ISBN 0 7176 0743 7 HSE Books 1994 (Handbook of

technical/medical information for managers, health and safety professionals and

occupational health professionals.)

The successful management of hand-arm vibration Interactive CD ROM HSE Books

2000 ISBN 0 7176 1713 0 price £95 plus VAT (includes an exposure calculator)

Safe use of work equipment. Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

Approved Code of Practice and guidance L22 HSE Books 1998 ISBN 0 7176 1626 6

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the references listed in this

publication, their future availability cannot be guaranteed.

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Further informationHSE priced and free publications are available by mail order from

HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA.

Tel: 01787 881165 Fax: 01787 313995. Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk

(HSE priced publications are also available from bookshops.)

For information about health and safety ring HSE’s InfoLine Tel: 08701 545500

Fax: 02920 859260 e-mail: hseinformationservices@natbrit.com or write to HSE

Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG. You can also visit

HSE’s website: www.hse.gov.uk

This leaflet contains notes on good practice which are not compulsory

but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do.

This leaflet is available in priced packs of 15 from HSE Books, ISBN 0 7176 2008 5.

Single free copies are also available from HSE Books.

This publication may be freely reproduced, except for advertising, endorsement or

commercial purposes. The information is current at 03/01. Please acknowledge the

source as HSE.

INDG338 03/01 C1500

Printed and published by the Health and Safety Executive