Managing exposure to Hand-arm Vibration
Vertu Motors are one of the largest dealership groups in the UK. Their servicing, aftercare and repair body shops are operated by manufacturer accredited technicians, who ensure that your vehicle is roadworthy.
When it comes to protecting their own technicians from work-related exposure to vibration, Vertu Motors are firmly in the driving seat.
We met with Kevin Middlemiss, Group Health and Safety Manager, and Lucy Thompson, Group Health and Safety Analyst, who shared how Reactec’s wearable technology and Analytics is protecting their skilled technicians from exposure to hand-arm vibration.
High levels of Vibration
“Long-term exposure to hand-arm vibration can disrupt our worker’s lives, long after they down tools” said Kevin.
“And, it’s easy to underestimate the risk that comes with using power tools on a regular basis”.
Kevin explained: “Bodyshop workers spend a lot of time using a number of tools each day, like sanders, jigsaws and drills. These all emit high-levels of vibration, especially the jigsaws, so preventing our technicians from an injury caused by the repeated exposure to hand-arm vibration from using these tools will always be our priority”.
Vertu Motors' technicians used Reactec’s trusted vibration monitoring wearable, HAVwear, before upgrading to the new R-Link smart watch in 2023.
“We used HAVwear for four years and then upgraded to R-Link. Before that, I literally had to visit each bodyshop, take vibration measurements from the tools, and then enter them into the HSE calculator” recalled Kevin.
“This was very time-consuming and not always the most accurate approach, which is why I pushed for vibration monitoring technology in the first place” said Kevin.
“We looked at a couple of vibration monitoring technologies before choosing Reactec. When Reactec came to present their offering, it wasn’t a case of 'here is the watch, now get on with it'. It was very clear from the outset that Reactec were more focussed on ensuring we knew how to use the technology to best effect, and that everything was in place for our technicians”.
“They have been ever since” added Kevin.
“When Reactec came to present their offering, it wasn’t a case of 'here is the watch, now get on with it'. It was very clear that Reactec were more focussed on ensuring we knew how to use the technology to best effect, and that everything was in place for our technicians”.
R-Link rollout
“Rolling out R-Link went smoothly. We have well over 150 R-Link watches being used across all our operations. This includes 16 bodyshops and more than 100 mobile units travelling the length and breadth of the UK to repair dents and chips by the roadside”.
Kevin added: “All our vehicles are kitted out with portable two-bay gateways which charge R-Link when our technicians carryout roadside repairs, while the ten-bay docking stations are installed in our bodyshops”.
“Our body shop technicians find R-Link really easy to use. It’s like one of those fancy smart watches, but it’s robust enough to withstand the work we undertake in the body shops, and on the road” added Kevin.
“If we need refresher training, Reactec are always on hand. They can provide remote training, or visit our bodyshops if it’s needed”.
“We also run a Health & Safety Roadshow every year and one of Reactec’s team even took part in the event to check-in with our technicians and offer further hands-on top-up training”.
“Every site displays R-Link training posters and we also have weblinks of the ‘how to’ videos and PowerPoints available” added Kevin.
Data-driven Decision Making
“Once the technology was set-up, it’s great because now the exposure to vibration data is automatically available in the online Reactec Analytics, and we can access that on a daily basis” said Lucy.
“Our bodyshop supervisors are informed when a technician has received an amber warning on their watch, and they intervene at that point” said Kevin.
“There is always more than one job that technicians can do when working on the same vehicle, so they often switch tasks to limit their exposure level throughout their shift” added Kevin.
“The data in Reactec Analytics is really useful for us to intervene before a worker reaches their exposure limit value” said Lucy.
Lucy added: “Head Office management and I review data from Reactec Analytics by technician, or tool”.
“We review the data to check when the watches have been signed-out and returned to their docking stations. That way, we can confirm that the technology is being used throughout the course of a shift” explained Lucy.
Lucy added: “We then review the data to prioritise interventions for any technicians who are close to their ELV”.
“We link the vibration data to our health screening” added Kevin. “If a colleague has experienced vibration-related symptoms, they are classed as ‘Tier 3’. We keep a very close eye on their vibration data in Reactec Analytics to monitor that they’re always wearing a watch, and that their exposure limit stays well under 100 points”.
“Also, if one of our tooling reports identify a piece of equipment with a high vibration level then we investigate two areas; the task it’s being used for, and how the operator is using it. If these two areas check out, then we look at replacing the tool” explained Kevin.
“A lot of our equipment contain sealed units, and because the tool can still be operated by our technicians, they can assume it’s working correctly. This is where we use R-Link to find hidden defects within the equipment as the tool is recording much higher outputs of vibration than expected”.
“The data in Reactec Analytics is really useful for us to intervene before a worker reaches their exposure limit value”
Futureproof Solution
“The reporting is fantastic” said Kevin. “Our Board loves the reports that we get from the Reactec Analytics. We’re exploring the API integration that Reactec Analytics offers too, as this may streamline reporting on a corporate level later down the line”.
“In the meantime, the Board can see that the company is going in the right direction to protect the future wellbeing of our technicians, who in turn, are dedicated to making our customer’s vehicles safe and roadworthy”.