Vibration risks from power tools at work

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) today began a campaign encouraging employers to choose carefully when buying or hiring hand-held power tools, because of the health risks from vibration. In support of the campaign, it is publishing a new leaflet, containing guidance on how to make the best choice.

Long-term exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV) from using hand-held power tools such as concrete breakers, chainsaws, grinders and chipping hammers is known to cause a range of diseases including vibration white finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, sensory nerve damage and muscle and joint damage of the hands and arms.

Vibration white finger is a prescribed industrial disease and in recent years over 3, 000 new cases each year have been assessed by the Department of Social Security under the Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit Scheme.

2ealth and safety regulations require, amongst other things, employers to assess risks for their employees, to take measures to reduce those risks to a minimum, and to provide equipment which is safe to use.

A new European health and safety Directive - the Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive - dealing with risks from hand-arm vibration - has been agreed at the Council of Ministers and will be considered by the European Parliament later this year. Adoption of the Directive is expected by the end of 2001. This would lead to new regulations in the UK by around 2004. These would include specific requirements for action at particular levels of exposure to vibration, and would prohibit altogether exposure above a specified level.

Industries affected by HAV include construction, heavy engineering, shipbuilding and repair, forestry, motor vehicle manufacture and repair, foundries, stonemasonry, mining, quarrying, demolition, railtrack maintenance and river maintenance.

Free single copies or priced packs of 15 of 'Power tools: how to reduce vibration health risks' can be ordered online from HSE Books or on (01787) 881165.
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