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What is whole-body vibration? 

Whole-body vibration is the shaking of the human body through a supporting surface (i.e a seat or the floor), typical examples are driving a vehicle along an uneven surface, operating earth-moving machines or standing on a structure attached to a large, powerful, fixed machine which is vibrating. 

The most common health effects associated with whole-body vibration is back pain. Exposure to whole-body vibration is most likely to lead to back pain when there is unusually high vibration or jolting or the vibration is uncomfortable for a long time on most working days. In such situations, the risk from vibration is related to the overall time the operator or driver is exposed to the vibration and the number of shocks and jolts they experience each day. 

In some cases whole-body vibration can aggravate a back problem caused by another activity, eg a muscle strain caused by an accident when lifting a heavy object or during physical activity such as sport. 

Who is likely to have high exposures to whole-body vibration?

Among those most likely to experience high vibration exposures are regular operators and drivers of off-road machinery such as: 

• construction, mining and quarrying machines and vehicles, particularly earth- moving machines such as scrapers, bulldozers and building site dumpers; 
• tractors and other agricultural and forestry machinery, particularly when used in transportation, tedding (turning hay), primary cultivation and mowing. 
• vehicles designed for smooth surfaces that are driven on poor surfaces, eg fork lifts with no wheel suspension.

Note: Most people who drive road-going vehicles at work are not likely to experience high levels of whole-body vibration and so their employers are unlikely to have to take any action under these Regulations.

What are your legal duties?

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations require you to control the risks from whole-body vibration. This should be based on an assessment of the risk and ideally measurement of actual exposures.

The requirements of the Regulations are that you must: 

1. assess the vibration risk to your employees;
2. decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure action value (EAV) and if they are:- introduce a programme of controls to eliminate or reduce their daily exposure so far as is reasonably practicable;
3. decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure limit value (ELV) and if they are:- take immediate action to reduce their exposure below the limit value;
4. provide information and training on health risks and controls to employees at risk;
5. keep a record of your risk assessment and control actions; 
6. review and update your risk assessment regularly. 

What is the exposure action value (EAV)? 

The exposure action value is the amount of daily exposure to whole-body vibration above which you are required to take action to reduce risk. It is set at a daily exposure of 0.5 m/s2 A(8)

Whole-body vibration risks are low for exposures around the action value and only simple control measures are usually necessary in these circumstances. 

What is the exposure limit value (ELV)? 

The exposure limit value is the maximum amount of vibration an employee may be exposed to on any single day. It is set at a daily exposure of 1.15 m/s2 A(8). Operators of some off-road machines and vehicles may exceed the limit value but this will depend on the task, vehicle speed, ground conditions, driver skill and duration of the operation. 

How is exposure measured?

Exposure is measured using an accelerometer plate that the driver / operative either stands or sits on during the normal operation of the vibration generating machinery / vehicle. A representative measurement can be taken in a relative short time period which is then factored up to calculate a daily average exposure value that can be compared to the EAV and ELV.

Interested in understanding more about Hand-arm Vibration (HAV’s) click here and read our article on this related topic.

For further advice call us on 0870 701970 or email: sales@euroenvironmental.co.uk