POWER TOOLS:

how to reduce vibration health risks

GUIDE FOR EMPLOYERS

What is this leaflet about?

It explains how to select hand-held power tools to reduce the risks of
vibration-related diseases.

Who is it for?
Read this leaflet if your company uses hand-held or hand-guided power
tools and machinery.

How will it help you?

It will help you to:
know what information to expect from power tool manufacturers,
importers or suppliers (including tool hire companies) about the risks
from vibration;
understand how to use vibration data and other information to choose
power tools with the lowest vibration risk to your employees;
understand what your legal duties are when your employees are exposed
to hand-arm vibration;
select the most suitable power tools for your business.

Vibrating power tools - preventing vibration injuries

There are millions of hand-held power tools in use in many industries across Britain from
agriculture to shipbuilding and from construction to quarrying. Power tools transmit
vibration (known as hand-arm vibration or HAV) into the hands and arms of the operator.
Exposing your employees regularly to high magnitudes of HAV may put them at risk of a
range of disabling diseases collectively known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).

What are the health risks from HAV?

Diseases which are caused by regular exposure to HAV include:
vibration white finger;
carpal tunnel syndrome;
permanent and painful numbness and tingling in the hands and arms;
painful joints and muscle weakening;
damage to bones in the hands and arms.

How many people are affected?

In Britain there are:
five million users of hand-held or hand-guided power tools;
over one million users who are at increased risk of disease because they are
exposed to HAV above the action level set by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE);
300 000 people estimated to have advanced symptoms of vibration white finger.
The magnitude of vibration can vary according to the type and model of tool and
materials being worked. Avoiding high vibration tools is a big step towards reducing
your employees exposure to vibration.

Older tools tend to produce more vibration than modern tools - many modern tools have
been specifically designed to reduce HAV. But simply buying a new power tool may not solve
the problem - if the tool you choose is not suitable for the job you want to do, it could
increase the risk.

What are your duties as a power tool user?

You have general duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 to assess the risks from using
power tools and to reduce them so far as is reasonably practicable. The Provision and Use
of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 also apply.
The power tool you select must be:
suitable for the work it is intended to do and the conditions in which it will be used;
used only for operations and in conditions for which it is suitable;
designed and constructed so as to reduce the risk from vibration;
used only by workers trained to use it safely;
properly maintained throughout its working life to sustain its best vibration performance.
You should also:
consult with your safety or employee representatives on your procedure for safe tool
purchase;
provide information and training on safe use and proper maintenance of the power
tool to supervisors and workers who will use and maintain it;
monitor the use of the tools to ensure that they are being used correctly, only by
trained staff and are being maintained in good condition.

Taking these actions will also help you comply with a proposed new European Directive
on vibration which, if adopted, will specifically require systematic control of exposure
to HAV across Europe and which is likely to set a limit above which workers may not
be exposed.

Buying tools how can manufacturers and suppliers help you?

Power tool manufacturers (and importers, suppliers and tool hire firms) can help you
select the most suitable and safest tools for your particular needs. They can provide
useful information and advice about tool vibration, selection and management. They
have a duty to help you with information on managing vibration risks that they have
been unable to eliminate by design.
Anyone supplying power tools for use in the UK must comply with the Supply of
Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992 (as amended).

Summary of the legal duties of power tool suppliers,

manufacturers, importers and hire companies
Power tools must be designed and constructed so as to reduce risks from vibration
to the lowest level possible making use of technological progress.
An instruction book must accompany power tools and it must include:
warnings about any vibration-related health and safety risks from using the

tool;
information on the limit of safe use;
either a statement of the vibration level or a statement that the vibration test has

produced a vibration emission value below 2.5 m/s2 (units are explained overleaf).

Sources of helpful vibration data

Manufacturers are obliged to report vibration data in the instruction book. Other
sources of vibration data useful in confirming likely workplace levels include: specialist
vibration consultants; trade associations; and government bodies. Data can also be
found in technical or scientific publications and on the Internet.

What do the units of measurement mean?

Vibration magnitude is usually described in terms of acceleration. During
vibration a point will accelerate (and decelerate) rapidly as it moves one way
and then back again. Acceleration can be measured with an accelerometer. The
unit of measurement is metres per second per second (m/s2).
Vibration magnitude can be measured over three axes (ie forward-back, up-down
and side-to-side). Exposure can be quoted as either the highest value of the three
axes measured (the dominant axis) or as a sum of the three axes measured.

Using vibration data

HSE currently advises employers that they need to take action to protect
employees from HAV risks when daily exposure exceeds 2.8 m/s2 A(8) in the
dominant axis. This would be about 4 m/s2 A(8) if the sum of the axes were
quoted. The higher the exposure measurement the greater the risk. Information
on assessing exposure to vibration and the method for calculating total
exposure for workers who use more than one type of tool in a day is described
in HSEs booklet Hand-arm vibration (HSG88 ISBN 0 7176 0743 7).

Manufacturers vibration data

For most types of tool, internationally agreed test codes exist which set out
specific methods for vibration testing. These allow you to compare the vibration
performance of different brands and models of the same type of tool.
Unfortunately, many of these test codes do not represent the way tools perform
at work and vibration levels in the workplace may be much higher than those
occurring in this type of laboratory test. Even so, tool manufacturers
instructions must inform users of residual risks, safe use and, where necessary,
training instructions.
Some types of tool do not yet have their own test code. In these cases the
manufacturer must use general vibration test standards and choose operating
conditions that produce vibration levels found at work. The methods and
conditions of the test should be described in the instructions. Comparisons of
different brands of power tool using data from these vibration measurements
should be made with care because the manufacturers chosen operating
conditions may not be identical.
Two values are usually reported: a (the average measured value) and K (the
uncertainty). In some cases K can be more than 40% of the measured emission
and is often several m/s2. The difference between the a values for two tools should
not be considered significant if it is smaller than one of the quoted K values.
Note: It may not be essential to choose the tool with the lowest vibration but it
must be safe and suitable for the particular task - just aim to avoid tools with
above average vibration.

Why is vibration data important?

Vibration data can tell you how much vibration is likely to enter a persons hands when
using a particular power tool. This is useful to help you to:
choose between high, medium and low risk tools;
consider the differences in vibration of several tools which are in other respects
suitable for the particular task;
identify the range in likely vibration levels when a tool is used for different tasks
or materials;
make an assessment of risk;
decide if you should limit the time employees spend on some tasks in any one day.

How do I use the manufacturers data?

The vibration data provided with the tools should help you to:
select from suitable tools based on differences in vibration magnitude between
models of the same type of tool; and
give you an idea of the most likely variation for different tasks and operators.
But remember:
to make your final choice you will need to check likely vibration magnitudes for
your intended use(s) and that the tool is generally suitable;
if particular uses of the tool are likely to cause unusually high vibration there
should be a warning in the instruction book;
where manufacturers declare in their instruction books that their tool produces
less than 2.5 m/s 2 you should ask if these are likely workplace levels.

Other important factors in choosing tools

Vibration emission is important in choosing power tools but there are other factors you
should consider:
Could the work be done safely and effectively without using hand-held power tools?
If not:
Is the tool suitable for the task?
Ask about vibration reduction features. Do they need maintenance to remain
effective? Do they reduce tool efficiency?
Can the supplier offer technical support, eg advice on using the equipment for specific
tasks, using the equipment safely, maintaining the equipment in good condition?
Consider ergonomic factors such as:
tool weight;
handle design/comfort;
grip force needed;
ease of use/handling;
cold from grips or exhausts on compressed air tools.

Consider risks from other hazards, eg:

noise;
dust.

Are manufacturers able to loan sample tools on trial? If so, take account of your
employees preferences based on practical trials.

Managing tool use

Having selected the most suitable tool for the work you should manage its safe use:
Consider the information/advice you have on risks and how to control them.
Work out daily time limits to do jobs and keep risks low.
Modify workstations (if necessary) to ensure good ergonomic tool use.
Discuss/agree with supervisors, safety representatives and users how the tool is to
be used safely including maximum daily use.
Provide instructions to supervisors/users.
Provide training on safe use.
Limit use to trained operators only.
Set up maintenance and replacement programmes for tools and their consumables
(eg chisels).
Monitor and review these actions regularly.

Other guidance from tool manufacturers

The tool manufacturer should also provide you with information on:
operator training requirements to avoid health and safety risks from vibration;
intended and appropriate use(s) of the tool;
a tool maintenance programme to sustain low vibration performance;
whether particular protective equipment is required when using the tool in compliance
with the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992. (Tool manufacturers
should not recommend the use of anti-vibration gloves unless they have been shown to
provide protection according to the requirements of these Regulations. Gloves may help
prevent injury by keeping hands warm and dry.)

10

Further reading
Reducing risk of hand-arm vibration injury from hand-held power tools HSE
Information Document 246/31 (A companion to this leaflet which provides detailed
technical advice on manufacturers vibration data. Available free from HSE Offices see telephone directory.)
Health risks from hand-arm vibration: Advice for employers INDG175(rev1)
HSE Books 1998 (Single copy free or priced packs of 10 ISBN 0 7176 1553 7)
Buying new machinery: A short guide to the law and some information on what to
do for anyone buying new machinery at work INDG271 HSE Books 1998
(Single copy free or priced packs of 15 ISBN 0 7176 1559 6)
Hand-arm vibration HSG88 ISBN 0 7176 0743 7 HSE Books 1994 (Handbook of
technical/medical information for managers, health and safety professionals and
occupational health professionals.)
The successful management of hand-arm vibration Interactive CD ROM HSE Books
2000 ISBN 0 7176 1713 0 price 95 plus VAT (includes an exposure calculator)
Safe use of work equipment. Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
Approved Code of Practice and guidance L22 HSE Books 1998 ISBN 0 7176 1626 6
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the references listed in this
publication, their future availability cannot be guaranteed.

11

Further information
HSE priced and free publications are available by mail order from
HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA.
Tel: 01787 881165 Fax: 01787 313995. Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk
(HSE priced publications are also available from bookshops.)
For information about health and safety ring HSEs InfoLine Tel: 08701 545500
Fax: 02920 859260 e-mail: [email protected] or write to HSE
Information Services, Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly CF83 3GG. You can also visit
HSEs website: www.hse.gov.uk
This leaflet contains notes on good practice which are not compulsory
but which you may find helpful in considering what you need to do.
This leaflet is available in priced packs of 15 from HSE Books, ISBN 0 7176 2008 5.
Single free copies are also available from HSE Books.
This publication may be freely reproduced, except for advertising, endorsement or
commercial purposes. The information is current at 03/01. Please acknowledge the
source as HSE.

INDG338

03/01

C1500

Printed and published by the Health and Safety Executive

12