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Pasc Ruggiero CFIOSH, FIIRSM
Member - 52 posts
Employers are sitting on a ‘vibration’ bomb. Many believe that the requirements “only came into being in 2005”. In fact, virtually the same Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) controls were identified in HSG 88 (1994!). The HSE has taken a number of enforcement actions under the H&S at Work Act 1974 where the duty is implied and have stated that more than 1 million people are exposed to harmful vibration doses. There have been numerous successful civil claims before and after the coming into force of the 2005 vibration regulations. The best known involve miners. Adrian Bideau of Norfolk County Council was diagnosed with HAVS and carpel tunnel syndrome in 2003 and has recently been awarded £262,000.00.
Employers are also being lulled into a false sense of security by colour coding of hand-held equipment which can be based on the least onerous conditions e.g. using a drill in timber when the work to be undertaken is 12mm dia percussion, in concrete. I have found that most manufacturers’ data is inadequate and unless reliable field measured data is available, employers need to undertake these measurements themselves. Of course, you can always assume the worst case scenario - as long as you are prepared to accept the associated non-productive time!
As for ‘anti-vibration gloves’, you can save £40 per pair and just buy thermal gloves because the HSE say there is inadequate evidence to support their use, and in some cases, can make (vibration) matters worst! Then there are the dexterity issues.
Whole body vibration is included in the 2005 regulations and this presents an even bigger minefield!
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