Hand-Arm and Whole-Body Vibration Risk Management

Vibration in Brief

Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 cover hand-arm vibration (HAV) and whole-body vibration (WBV) with daily exposure action and limit values. HSE points-based calculators are the standard way to assess and manage exposure.

Vibration at Work

Vibration exposure at work comes in two forms. Hand-arm vibration (HAV) is transmitted through the hands from tools, handles or workpieces - affecting workers who use powered hand tools, grinders, sanders, chainsaws, breakers, impact wrenches, or similar equipment. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is transmitted through the seat or feet from vehicles and plant - affecting drivers of forklift trucks, tractors, earthmoving equipment, and other vibrating machines.

HAV causes hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), including vibration white finger, nerve damage, and musculoskeletal problems. WBV causes back pain and spinal injury. Both are progressive, irreversible, and often start subtly.

What Vibration Law Requires

In the UK, the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 set out exposure action values (EAVs) and exposure limit values (ELVs) for both HAV and WBV, measured as a daily exposure A(8).

For hand-arm vibration:

Exposure action value: 2.5 m/s² A(8). Above this, employers must introduce a programme of controls and health surveillance.
Exposure limit value: 5 m/s² A(8). This must not be exceeded.

For whole-body vibration:

Exposure action value: 0.5 m/s² A(8). Above this, employers must take action to reduce exposure.
Exposure limit value: 1.15 m/s² A(8). This must not be exceeded.

Duties include risk assessment, engineering and organisational controls, information and training, provision of suitable equipment, and health surveillance for workers regularly exposed above the HAV action value.

Assessing Vibration Exposure

Vibration exposure depends on two things - the vibration magnitude of the tool or vehicle, and the time the worker is actually in contact. Many assessments go wrong by overestimating contact time (the tool is picked up and put down many times during a shift) or by relying on manufacturer data that does not reflect real working conditions.

The HSE provides an HAV exposure calculator that takes tool vibration magnitude and daily trigger time to give A(8) exposure. As a rough guide, a tool with a vibration magnitude of 5 m/s² used for two hours gives an A(8) of 2.5 m/s² - exactly at the action value. Higher-vibration tools need proportionally less trigger time.

Manufacturer vibration data is useful but typically based on standardised tests that do not match real use. Where exposure is close to the action or limit values, on-tool measurement in the actual working conditions gives a more reliable figure.

Controlling Vibration Exposure

Controls follow the hierarchy of control, with the usual expectation to reduce exposure to the lowest level reasonably practicable:

Eliminate - can the vibrating process be removed or mechanised? Automated grinding, robotic finishing, or contracting out a high-vibration task all eliminate worker exposure.
Substitute - replace high-vibration tools with lower-vibration alternatives. Look for low-vibration ratings when procuring new equipment.
Engineering controls - anti-vibration mounts, isolated seating for WBV, mechanical aids to reduce grip force.
Organisational controls - job rotation, limits on continuous trigger time, scheduling high-vibration work across the day rather than in one session.
Information and training - workers need to understand the risks, recognise early symptoms, and know how to use tools in ways that minimise exposure.

Anti-vibration gloves have limited effect on HAV. They do not provide meaningful reduction of the low-frequency vibration that does most of the damage. They can help with warmth and grip, which are indirectly protective, but should not be relied on as a primary control.

Health Surveillance for HAV

Health surveillance is required for workers regularly exposed above the HAV action value. It follows a tiered approach set out in HSE guidance:

Tier 1 - annual self-assessment questionnaire.
Tier 2 - annual assessment by a qualified person (usually an occupational health nurse).
Tier 3 - assessment by a qualified occupational health doctor if Tier 1 or 2 flags concerns.
Tier 4 - formal diagnosis and staging by a specialist.
Tier 5 - optional standardised testing (cold water immersion, thermal threshold) where further clinical investigation is needed.

Baseline surveillance is also good practice for all new starters likely to have HAV exposure. Early symptoms include tingling or numbness in the fingers, episodes of white fingers (typically triggered by cold), and loss of fine manipulation.

Hand-arm vibration is the occupational health problem I most want people to take seriously. The damage happens quietly over years, workers do not always link symptoms to the job, and by the time someone reports white fingers they usually have permanent damage. The duty is to prevent that happening, not to catch it once the damage is done.

Trigger time is the single number that catches most employers out. People underestimate how long a tool is actually running in someone's hands during a shift. A two-hour job with a grinder is almost never two hours of trigger time - but it is rarely the twenty minutes people claim either. Either measure it properly, or assume worst case and plan accordingly.

And for whole-body vibration - check the seats. A worn-out seat on a forklift or tractor can increase WBV exposure several-fold over a properly maintained one. It is also one of the cheapest controls available.

We had a welder doing grinding work with an old 9-inch angle grinder at about 6 m/s². Even at 90 minutes trigger time that was over the HAV limit. Swap to a newer 4.5-inch grinder at around 3 m/s² plus job rotation with a second welder, and we got exposure under 2.5 m/s². New equipment paid back in three months just on the reduced risk, and the welders preferred the lighter tool anyway.

We keep a simple tool register with measured vibration values next to each item, and a running total for each worker's exposure. Makes the conversation about scheduling much easier - you can see the numbers building up as the day goes on.

Vibration feels complicated with all the maths - m/s², A(8), exposure points - but the basics are simple. Vibrating tools hurt your hands over time. Less time using them is better. Lower-vibration tools are better. Check your workers for early signs. That is the job.

The numbers matter when you need to prove compliance, but on the shop floor it is about making sure no one ends up with permanent damage because someone did not want to buy the right equipment.

Practical Compliance Guidance

Section 7 of the IMS1 Manual covers the operational H&S management requirements including control of vibration at work. It frames vibration as part of the integrated hazard management system, linked to risk assessment, procurement, training and health surveillance.

The alphaZ documents below cover the policy, procedural guidance, risk assessment, health surveillance forms and audit checklist for a compliant vibration at work arrangement.

alphaZ document	How to use it
ISO 9001 14001 45001 IMS Toolkit	The full integrated toolkit for ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001. Contains the procedural documents, forms and guidance needed to set up and run a compliant management system including vibration at work arrangements.
P77 Hand Arm Vibration Policy	Sets out the organisation's commitment to managing HAV exposure. Issue to workers as part of the wider H&S policy set.
PP-7-25 Hand-Arm Vibration Policy Procedure	The policy-procedure document covering HAV assessment, controls, procurement, training and health surveillance. Use as the written procedure for the management system.
PP-7-100 Health and Safety Policy Procedure	A single integrated H&S policy-procedure covering vibration alongside noise, PPE, COSHH and the other core H&S topics. Use as an alternative if you prefer one umbrella H&S procedure over separate topic-specific ones.
GG-7-25 Hand-Arm Vibration Guidance	Plain-English guidance for line managers and workers. Covers what HAV is, how to recognise early symptoms, and how to follow the controls. Issue alongside training.
RA-HS50 Vibration at Work Risk Assessment	The risk assessment covering HAV and WBV exposure across the organisation. Tailor to your own tools, vehicles and tasks and review when the work changes.
F-HS45 HAVS Forms	Health surveillance questionnaire and record forms for HAVS surveillance. Use to capture Tier 1 and Tier 2 assessment information for each exposed worker.
A-C P51 HAVS Audit Checklist	Audit checklist for reviewing the HAV management programme. Use for internal audits or management review of the vibration control arrangements.

Note - all the above files can be downloaded with an alphaZ subscription.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do anti-vibration gloves reduce HAV exposure?

Not meaningfully at the frequencies that cause most damage. Anti-vibration gloves can help keep hands warm and improve grip, both of which are indirectly beneficial, but they should not be counted as a primary control when calculating exposure. The duty to reduce vibration at source comes before any PPE consideration.

Can we use manufacturer vibration data for our assessment?

As a starting point, yes, but with caution. Manufacturer data is based on standardised test conditions that often do not reflect real use. Where your assessed exposure is close to the action or limit values, on-tool measurement in actual working conditions gives a more reliable figure. For lower exposures, manufacturer data with a conservative margin is usually acceptable.

What is "trigger time" and why does it matter so much?

Trigger time is the actual time a worker is in contact with the vibrating tool or surface. It is not the length of the task, which usually includes setup, positioning, pauses and other non-contact time. Exposure is proportional to trigger time, so getting it right is essential. A tool that runs for eight hours might only be in contact with the worker's hands for two hours of trigger time - that difference changes the exposure calculation by a factor of four.

Are occasional users exempt from surveillance?

Not automatically. Health surveillance applies where exposure is above the action value on a regular basis. Occasional use of low-vibration tools may not trigger it, but occasional use of high-vibration tools (such as a heavy breaker used for short but intense tasks) can still push weekly or annual exposure above action levels. Assess the actual exposure pattern rather than relying on a rule of thumb.

UK Legislation

The following UK legislation is directly relevant to vibration at work. Organisations outside the UK should identify the equivalent legislation applicable in their jurisdiction.

Further Resources