Health and Safety ExecutiveHealth and Safety Executive

WBV, Noise, HAV

HSE’s perspective

Paul Brereton

HM Principal Specialist Inspector (Noise & Vibration)

What the law requires

• Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005

– Guidance in L108

• Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

– Guidance in L140 (HAV), L141 (WBV)

• RIDDOR 2013

– Reporting of HAVS and CTS

• Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008

– Low noise, low vibration machinery

– Noise and vibration information facilitating

choice and helping with risk assessment

Health and Safety ExecutiveHealth and Safety Executive

Whole-body vibration

(WBV)

BIRD tool development

Compliance

Other Issues

Posture

Vehicle

Vibration

Health outcomes BIRD – Back Injury

Risk in Drivers

• WBV can cause

complaints of

discomfort or injury

• BIRD helps you

identify the most likely

cause of injury

• WBV likely to

aggravate – not cause

BIRD tool development

Other similar tools

• HSE MACManual handling

Assessment Charts

• HSE ARTAssessment of Repetitive

Tasks of the upper limbs

• RULARapid Upper Limb

Assessment

BIRD tool

Back Injury Risks In Driving Tool Progress: 50%

Seat condition

Ver

y p

oo

r

Po

or

OK

Go

od

Ver

y go

od

No

t ap

plic

able

Score

Seat coverings significantly

damaged or ripped

5 4 3 2 1

Seat coverings in very good

condition

Seat padding very compacted,

damaged or missing

5 4 3 2 1

Seat padding at full volume

Fore-aft control inoperable or

inaccessible

5 4 3 2 1 N/A

Fore-aft control in good

condition and operable

Backrest control inoperable or

inaccessible

5 4 3 2 1 N/A

Backrest control in good

condition and operable

Seat suspension control (may

operate in conjunction with

driver height adjustment)

Seat suspension control

inoperable or inaccessible

5 4 3 2 1 N/A

Seat suspension control in

good condition and operable

Weighted average score:

Summary:

Recommendations:

Backrest control

The backrest control should be in good

condition and fully operable. It allows

the driver to achieve effective back

support, and help adjust the reach

between hands and feet.

3

Backrest control sometimes di fficul t to operate

The seat suspension control should be in

good condition and fully operable. The

suspension is critical to providing

effective vibration control.

4

Seat suspens ion control di fficul t to operate or access

4

Seat needs some attention and may need replacing Seat coverings in good condition. Seat padding slightly compacted. Fore-aft control sometimes difficult to operate.

Seat repair work required Repair/maintain fore-aft control.

Seat padding Seat padding is a component of vibration

control, and aids general comfort and

support.

2

Seat padding s l ightly compacted

Fore-aft control

Fore-aft controls should be in good

condition and fully operable. They allow

the seat to be positioned such that the

driver can comfortably reach a little

beyond all main hand and foot controls.

3

Fore-aft control sometimes di fficul t to operate

2

Seat coverings in good condition

BIRD Tool

Not set

Seat coveringsSeat covering condition is an indication

of the general condition of the seat.

Seat condition and set up are crucial to allowing workers to achieve a good posture that can be maintained comfortably whilst driving.

The seat should be in good condition, that means:

- padding and seat covering in good condition,

- key controls for seat adjustment working and easy to operate (if the seat does not have the control, select 'not applicable').

NOTE - This section is about seat condition; the next section looks at the use of the seat and whether it is set up correctly.

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Summary

Health and Safety ExecutiveHealth and Safety Executive

Noise

Noise – Employer liability claims

Liability claims – HSE response

Why so many claims for deafness?

• Are appropriate noise controls in place?

– Difficult to source in some sectors

• Proper use of noise control equipment?

• Buying Quiet?

• Are hearing protection programmes working?

– Selection of suitable hearing protection?

– Training of workers and supervisors?

– Health Surveillance?

Buy Quiet – Market Surveillance

• European joint market

surveillance action on safe

use of chainsaws

– including Noise and HAV

• 20dB difference between

noisiest and quietest

chainsaws

– BUT not all chainsaws

equally efficient

Buy Quiet

•Find tools good at the job

–Avoid unnecessarily high

noise models

NOMAD

European project to –

• Improve compliance with noise

requirements on manufacturers

– Noise information used to compare

actual noise with the state-of-the-

art noise control

– Value(s) should represent noisiest

typical use

Health and Safety ExecutiveHealth and Safety Executive

Hand-arm vibration

(HAV)

Do I have to Measure Vibration?

What can we do?

NO•Identify your risks and

how to control them

Eliminate exposure to HAV

• Low maintenance planting

Substitute lower HAV equipment

• Remote Control – reduce

noise and vibration, also

could be faster

Administrative controls

• Last resort

– Job rotation

– Time limiting

• Plan the work

• Traffic light system

PPE

• No PPE for HAV

• Gloves and warm clothes

help reduce likelihood of

symptoms, not exposure

• You should assume no

protection from ‘anti-

vibration’ gloves

Sources of vibration data

• Measured vibration magnitude

– HAV – 3.3 m/s2 (4.5 hrs to EAV)

• Manufacturer data

– HAV – 2.8 m/s2 (6.5 hrs)

– WBV – 0.5 m/s2 (8 hrs)

• Measured vibration magnitude

– HAV – 5.5 m/s2 (1.5 hrs)

– WBV – 1.9 m/s2 (30 mins)

http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/index.htm

Sources of

vibration

data

Sources of vibration data

• Caution required to

avoid misleading data

• Standard tests usually

produce good data for

some tools in a class

• Best to share good

data

Sources of vibration data

• Use recommended initial value for RA

• Range indicates whether lower vibration alternatives may be available

• Responsibility on dutyholder to demonstrate validity of their data if using lower values

Buy SmoothFind tools capable of the job

Avoid the models with unnecessarily high vibration

(LowVib)

HAV – Too much data?

Not enough control!

• Too many sellers of measurements

– Assessment is to find out how to comply

• Is there a risk?

• What control measures will work?

• Too many suppliers of monitors

– Continual monitoring unnecessary

• Too few advisers on good practice

– Most companies know what to do but lack

confidence

http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/index.htm

Exposure

monitoring

Q&A

Exposure monitoring

• No HSE requirement for

continual monitoring

• If measurements must be

made, instruments to

comply with ISO 8041

• Effort should be directed

at control ALARP and

health surveillance – not

monitoring

Information, Instruction and Training

• Employees to know:

–vibration risk

–control measures

–how to identify and report signs and symptoms

–how health surveillance will help them

Health Surveillance

• To keep people in

work

• To prevent

progression

• To avoid disability

• Consider change of

job

• No safe level (negligible risk at 1 m/s²)

• Presentation only, not for circulation

Key messages

• Assess wisely – to identify controls

• Control the risk

• Share success stories

–The good processes and tools

• Share typical-use emission values

• Prevent disability – use health

surveillance findings

Have a good day…

Questions?