Whole Body
VIBRATION

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 imposes a responsibility on employers to evaluate and mitigate whole-body vibration exposure levels if they surpass the daily exposure action level.

The primary objective of the Vibration Regulations is to safeguard workers from elevated levels of whole-body vibration, particularly when operating mobile machinery or standing on platforms susceptible to vibration within their workplace. Such exposure has the potential to lead to musculoskeletal issues, including back problems.

The level at which employers must take action will depend on the measured whole body vibration exposure for each task or activity over a working day.

There are two values that need to be considered, the action value (the level of daily exposure at or above which you are required to take action to reduce exposure) and the daily exposure limit (the maximum amount of vibration an employee maybe exposed to on a single day). In relation to whole body vibration these limits are 0.5 m/s2 (acceleration in meters per second) and 1.15 m/s2 respectively.

Actions and advice

As an employer, it's your duty to safeguard your employees from whole-body vibration and its health implications. Start by identifying vibration-prone activities; the first step in reducing exposure is to explore alternative methods that don't subject staff to vibrating machines. If no alternatives are viable, conduct a comprehensive vibration risk assessment, including identifying actual exposure levels for different roles to ensure compliance with HSE limits. Health surveillance is mandatory when the action limit is reached.

How can we help?

Our consultants are ready to assist you with expert advice on whole-body vibration. We offer a service to assess the risk associated with vibration, and if needed, we can conduct a site assessment to determine exposure levels. Our comprehensive assessment includes result interpretation and personalized recommendations, ensuring your compliance with regulatory standards.

For further help call us on 0870 7019170 or email: sales@euroenvironmental.co.uk