Excellent reminder of what management of HAV exposure entails.
Dr Paul Pitts (Health and Safety Laboratory) presentation at the recent Hand-Arm Vibration Conference in Bonn Germany, May 2019 highlighted key points to aid the evaluation and management of HAV exposure.
Initial controls – Ideas and advice on controlling risks can come from a review of work processes with workers, supervisors and other managers, experiences reported by similar industry groups, trade associations and equipment suppliers. Use the heirechy of controls for considering how to control vibration risks.
If after an initial assessment and risk reduction actions have been applied, the risk cannot be removed or reduced to not require further controls, a more detailed risk assessment may be required. What does not constitute a risk assessment is creating huge amounts of paperwork, such as documenting tool vibration levels and duration of tool usage, but rather about identifying a sensible measure of controls.
The following 2 slides summarise what is required and employers duties.
Devices are now available that enable a form of personal vibration exposure monitoring which offers new opportunities and challenges. For the HSE it’s important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of new and novel measurement systems. For users, it is important to understand how such systems can properly contribute to their measurement objectives. There is a risk of measuring with no clear purpose and should be made with a clear plan to feed into an improved understanding of vibration risk and then into decisions on those risk controls.
Continual personal monitoring is not required by UK regulations but may be useful for a limited period of time. It should be planned with clear objectives and instructions for users and measurements are not always required and can be obtained from other sources for a risk assessment. Where measurements are undertaken it is important to understand the limitations of measurement and to have a clear plan on how the results will feed into a risk assessment process.
Reactec are pleased that the HSE see benefits in using monitoring and specifically wearable technology in managing HAV exposure. We welcome all opportunities to discuss how data gathered from our technology can ensure an improved understanding of vibration risk and decisions on risk controls.
