The Big Shake Up

• Occupational exposure to equipment that causes vibration of the hand and arm can cause serious, disabling injuries

• You minimise the risks to your workforce by reducing or eliminating vibration or by taking proper precautionary measures

• New rules governing acceptable vibration exposure levels are in force from 5 July 2005*

Responsibilities• If you employ people who use vibrating equipment, it is your responsibility to ensure that exposure is kept to safe levels

• You can get information on likely vibration levels from the manufacturers of tools and equipment, but actual levels can vary dramatically from job to job

• To effectively assess the risks, you need to observe actual jobs and take measurements where necessary

Measurement

• Vibration is measured using sensors placed under the palm

• Under the new rules, vibration is calculated by summing the accelerations measured along the three principal axes

• Vibration limits are calculated by averaging the exposure over an eight hour period

• Under the new rules, the vibration exposure action value is 2.5m/s2

• Compared to the old rules, which used different limits and a different measurement protocol, safe working times have been reduced by up to 37%, with obvious impact on productivity

knowledge + support

A guide to the new rules on hand-arm vibration at work

3*With the introduction in UK law of the Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive 2002/44/EC of the European Parliament.

A guide to the new rules on hand-arm vibration at work

3Abrasive SystemsCustomer Service Group

3M United Kingdom PLC3M House28 Great Jackson StreetManchester M15 4PATel: 0161 237 6390Fax: 0161 237 5911E-mail: abrasives.uk@mmm.comwww.3m.com/uk

Abrasive SystemsCustomer Service Group

3M Ireland3M House, Adelphi Centre,Upper Georges Street,Dun Laoghaire,Co. Dublin, Ireland Tel: (01) 280 3555Fax: (01) 280 3509

ActionIf a job involves exposure above the action level, you must

• Notify the employee of the risks• Begin medical surveillance for signs of injury• Implement a programme to reduce vibration exposure to a minimum

Options Action to reduce exposure to vibration can include: • Offering the employee alternative working methods that reduce exposure to vibration • Selecting appropriate work equipment, designed to produce the least possible amount of vibration • Providing auxiliary equipment, such as vibration absorbing handles, to reduce the amount of vibration transmitted to the body

Assistance• You can fi nd an online tool to help calculate vibration exposure at: www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/calculator.htm• Manufacturers of machinery and consumables can offer help and advice on reducing vibration at source• 3M produces a range of abrasives that can help to reduce the levels of vibration transmitted to operators• 3M™ Green Corps™ Flexible Grinding Discs have been toughened up and slimmed down for improved fl at grinding and blending on a variety of metals, delivering a smoother operation than traditional depressed centre grinding discs• 3M™ Coated Abrasive Belts incorporate 3M™ Cubitron™ Mineral which delivers a fast cut and a more consistent fi nish, thereby providing a lower-vibration alternative to grinding wheels• For more information on these and other 3M products, please contact our Customer Information Team on 0870 60 800 90

CJ ASD 16/05