Topic
Vibration
Occupational exposure to mechanical vibration.
Documents
- 2023Apr
Noise and Vibration
Inspection guidance for assessing offshore dutyholders’ management of occupational noise and hand-arm vibration. It combines inspection questions, performance scoring and enforcement expectations with discussion of engineering controls, tool selection, exposure-time management, hearing protection and health surveillance. It distinguishes hearing protection from noise control and addresses sustained regulatory compliance.
- 2019Mar
Hand-arm vibration
Guidance explains employers’ hand-arm vibration duties, exposure assessment and practical ways to reduce risk through process redesign, suitable tool selection and maintenance. It covers daily exposure calculations, vibration measurement, the limitations of anti-vibration gloves, and tiered health surveillance, including clinical assessment of HAVS and vibration-related carpal tunnel syndrome.
- 201712 Dec
Four hand and finger injury incidents
Four cases cover hand-arm vibration exposure, crushed fingers during manual frame handling, glove entanglement in a metalworking lathe and hand trapping in printing rollers. The flash discusses shortcomings in exposure limitation, health surveillance, manual-handling assessment, safe working methods, machinery guarding, training and supervision.
- 20172 Aug
Two cases of hand injuries – UK HSE
This flash reviews two HSE cases involving engineering firms: a hand injury during lathe polishing with emery cloth and gloves, and vibration-related symptoms among workers using powered hand tools. It highlights inadequate risk assessment, safe working guidance and training, alongside continued vibration exposure after symptoms arose.
- 201510 Aug
Uncontrolled exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAVS)
This safety flash summarises an HSE prosecution concerning uncontrolled hand-arm vibration exposure in motor vehicle repair workshops. Up to 25 staff faced unrestricted handheld power-tool use. The account identifies absent tool replacement arrangements, inadequate maintenance, missing vibration-risk instruction and no health surveillance for early signs of HAVS.
- 201113 Jun
Technical Report - Offshore petroleum facility accomodation
This informational technical report synthesises good practice for offshore petroleum living quarters. It addresses cabin layouts, privacy, communal spaces, acoustic insulation, vibration isolation, artificial lighting and indoor air quality. Recommendations cover design modelling, vendor specifications and commissioning checks, with application to new facilities and practicable improvements to existing accommodation.
- 2010Mar
Whole-body vibration
Guidance explains whole-body vibration duties, exposure estimation and back-pain risk for vehicle drivers and machine operators. It covers representative vibration data, daily directional assessment, shocks and jolts, vehicle and seat maintenance, driver training and posture. Informal symptom monitoring is distinguished from formal health surveillance, which is considered inappropriate for whole-body vibration.
- Undated
Heavy landing on a rigid inflatable boat with 1 person injured
A passenger travelling to a jack-up rig on the River Thames sustained lower back compression fractures after craft motion lifted him from a locker lid and he landed heavily. The synopsis identifies shock and vibration risks, appropriate seating, helmsman training, craft design and medical screening, alongside recommendations concerning small commercial vessel guidance.
- Undated
Preventing Musculoskeletal Injury MSI
Guidance for employers and joint committees on preventing work-related musculoskeletal injuries. It explains regulatory responsibilities, assessment of exposure duration, magnitude and frequency, and controls for force, repetition, posture, contact stress and vibration. Workplace and tool design, worker consultation, training and ongoing review are supported by practical case studies.