Summary
Hand-arm vibration can be a significant health risk wherever hands are exposed to vibration for prolonged periods of time, and it is a common injury within Local Authority working environments.
Local authority workers are probably exposed to some of the greatest variability in terms of the work they undertake, and range of tools used. Within grounds work, tools range from passive strimmers and blowers, to powerful chainsaws and cutters, meaning the range of vibrations experienced is expansive, whilst terrain and seasonal factors introduce a wide range of factors that will influence an individual’s exposure risk. Within street works, a very different set of tools come into play, sometimes with an added complication of emergency response factors.