Vibration Issues

 Explanation of vibration related injuries
Permanent disease can result from the injury caused, over a period of time, to the hands and arms of an operator when using equipment that vibrates. Lawn mowers, electric hammer drills, road breakers and pneumatic powered hand tools are all examples of this which subjects the user's hands and arms to vibration.

This disease, known as HAV's, Vibration White Fingers or VWF Syndrome is sometimes also associated with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and it is progressive and irreversible with the hands becoming permanently disabled in the advanced stages. As one of it's names suggests the most obvious sympton of this injury is the user's fingers going white as the injury caused by exposure to vibration restricts the blood supply and colour after 30 minutes, but as the disease progresses the symptoms become permanent as the blood vessels suffer irreversible damage.

As a reponsible manufacturer Trelawny  SPT Ltd has developed a range of tools with reduced or very low vibration to ensure the user is protected from injury. These tools are identified with the name 'Vibro-lo'TM and the associated logo.

The patented Vibro-lo (Low Vibration) range of pneumatic/power tools has lead the way in protecting operators against exposure to excessive vibration levels. Trelawny's range of reduced vibration tools and equipment allow increased usage time for the tools and operators using tools with higher vibration readings.

The Table below shows us the different risks that the tool user is facing with vibration level and duration of exposure.

Table1. How vibration level and duration affect exposure

(Source: HSE 2005 - 'Control the risks from hand-arm vibration') 

For more information on HAV please see the UK government website, www.hse.gov.uk/vibration. This contains a lot of useful information and an exposure calculator for employers to use to calculate the daily exposure levels for each worker.

Directives

Because vibration injury is quite common and avoidable, the EC [European Commission] passed a Directive [i.e. law] in 2002 to protect persons using vibrating equipment from injury caused by vibration.

This law requires employers to carry out Risk Assessments and to restrict the exposure to vibration that their employees receive during a working day. The law also requires manufacturers of equipment to use the latest technology and knowledge to reduce vibration at source, and to provide information on vibration to the end users so that they can carry out a risk assessment before anyone is allowed to use the equipment.

 Measure

Vibration is measured using an accelerometer and so the vibration value is always quoted in units of acceleration, m/sec2.

For most people exposure to a vibration less than 2.5 m/sec2 will not cause permanent injury, even when exposure is over a long period of time. Exposure to vibration is safe if levels are kept between 2.5 m/sec2 5.0 m/sec2 and the length of time of exposure is carfully managed.

Table 2: Recommended daily exposure

Vibration  (m/s2) Daily usage
Under 5 Low Risk 8 Hours
5 to 10 Medium Risk 8 to 2 Hours
Over 10 High Risk 2 to 0 Hours

Levels above 5.0 m/sec2 run an increasingly higher risk of causing permanent injury. Vibration levels above 5 m/sec2 have by law to be carefully managed to ensure the length of time a person uses the tools is strictly monitored and limited to less than the maximum allowable time per day.   
 Precaution
  • Wear gloves, keep your hands warm and dry and ensure good circulation to the fingers.
  • Don't grip the tools too tightly.
  • Ensure the tool is well lubricated and the air pressure is correct.
  • Take regular breaks.
  • If you experience any tingling or numbness in your hands or fingers, stop immediatly and report this incident to your site manager.
    		•

       'Check out our range of Low Vibration tools'

     Needles & Chisels Scalers 

     Scabbling Hammers

     Pole Scabblers

     Compactors

     Floor Grinders

     Floors Scabblers

     Floor Planers