BUSINESS
HAND ARM SYNDROME Hand arm vibration syndrome is a condition that employers need to be aware of and take responsibility over to prevent their staff suffering. Pro Arb talks to Andrew Turner, HM Principal Inspector of health and safety at the HSE, about the syndrome and what precautions can be taken to combat it
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and arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is a condition caused by vibration damage to the fingers, arms and hands. Workers in the arboriculture industry are vulnerable to this syndrome due to the prolific and necessary use of vibrating tools and machinery. Andrew Turner explains that the condition is disabling, but it is preventable: “This condition can affect the victim s blood system and their soft tissue. The end result is that one way or another they will no longer be able to use their hands and arms in the way they would expect to.” Regulations On 6 July 2005 the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations came into force with the aim of reducing risks to workers health. These regulations are still in place
today and must be complied with by employers. Schedule 1 of the regulations focuses on hand arm vibration syndrome and the limits that employees should be exposed to vibration on a daily and weekly scale. Andrew gives a brief explanation of the regulations: “There are four main parts that an employer must comply with. The first of these is to carry out an assessment of the likely exposure to vibration. Secondly they must implement control measures to reduce that exposure. Next they must provide information, instructions and training to the employees likely to be affected. Finally, they must record the outcome of their control measures and monitor the exposure levels.” Suggested control measures include using low vibration
Under the regulations it is the employer’s responsibility to protect staff from HAVS, which means employers have a legal duty to their staff to take every possible action to prevent them suffering from the condition 24 Pro Arb | February 2017
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alternative tools or finding substitute methods for completing a ob. Felled material could be transported to an area where it can be dealt with by large machinery rather than handheld tools. Andrew also highlights the importance of training staff to use tools correctly as this can significantly reduce the risks. To monitor an employee s exposure levels, it s important to understand the limits that they must not exceed. Within the regulations there are two guideline figures. The first is an exposure action value which is 2.5m2 per second. t this level, employers should introduce measures to reduce exposure. The second is an ‘exposure limit value of m2 per second which should not be exceeded. These figures are known as the vibration magnitude . mployers should be able to find out what this is for individual tools within the specifications. The website contains a vibration calculator which is an easy way to work out exposure.
We ask Andrew how employers can utilise the tool: “There are two columns you need to complete: the vibration level of the tool and the trigger time. This will work out a value in points. You can add various tasks to the sheet throughout the day; for example you may use more than one vibrating tool. The sheet will help you to find a points value over the course of the day, providing an idea of the amount of exposure an employee is dealing with.” Precautions Under the regulations it is the employer s responsibility to protect staff from , which means employers have a legal duty to their staff to take every possible action to prevent them suffering from the condition. Andrew says his top tip for avoiding HAVS is to ensure that you re using the right tools for a job: “The tools we have available now all have varying levels of vibration that they emit.” Does this mean you should always simply choose the tool that emits the least vibration t s not as
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02/02/2017 11:15