Understanding HAVS and WBV
Understanding HAVS and WBV is important when managing the risk from vibration exposure to ALARP.
Extended use of vibrating tools and machinery such as drills, saws, sanders, strimmers and impact hammers can lead to nerve damage and long-term health problems such as Hand-Arm Vibration syndrome (HAVS) and Whole Body Vibration (WBV) issues.
The health effects associated with vibration exposure can be serious and long-lasting. HAVS is preventable, but once damage occurs it can be permanent. Monitoring vibration exposure can support the management of vibration risk.
HSE figures show 2,860 new cases of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome were assessed in Great Britain between 2015 and 2024. HAVS remains a serious workplace health risk, with HSE stating that nearly 2 million people are at risk. Greater awareness of vibration risk, alongside appropriate monitoring and control measures, can support efforts to manage exposure and reduce its potential impact on workers.
Understanding HAVS - The Statistics
workers worldwide at risk of HAVS (UK Medical Research Council 1999)
workers at risk of vibration exposure every day in the UK (HSE)
workers currently suffering from advanced stages of HAVS or WBV
workers suffering from a new case of work-related musculoskeletal disorder in 2019/20
Hand Arm Vibration Exposure Values
For hand-arm vibration, there are two daily exposure values: the Exposure Action Value (EAV) and Exposure Limit Value (ELV), based on vibration exposure and the time spent using vibrating tools or equipment.
EAV
The Exposure Action Value (EAV) is the daily amount of vibration exposure at or above which employers are required to take action to control exposure. The limit is set by HSE at 100 points or 2.5M/S2. EAV represents a clear risk requiring management.
ELV
The Exposure Limit Value (ELV) is the maximum amount of vibration any employee may be exposed to on any single day. This is the absolute limit, as set by HSE at 400 points or 5M/S2. It represents a high risk above which employees should not be exposed.
In some cases, individual operators may have lower values according to their own health factors or Occupational Health Guidance. Some organisations may choose to set lower internal action value levels according to company policy, individual health factors or occupational health guidance.
Internal action levels can be set below the statutory values to suit company or individual needs. The legal EAV and ELV remain unchanged.
The Control of Vibration
at Work Regulations (2005)
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations (2005) requires employers to assess and control risks from vibration exposure at work through the following steps:
- Assess the vibration risk to all employees
- Assess those who might be exposed at or above the EAV and introduce a programme of controls to eliminate or reduce their daily exposure
- Decide if they are likely to be exposed above the ELV and to take immediate action to reduce their exposure if they are
- Provide information and training on health risks and controls to employees at risk
- Keep a record of risk assessment and control actions
- Review and update the risk assessment regularly
Failure to properly manage vibration risks can result in HSE enforcement action, prosecution, and significant financial penalties. Recent vibration-related prosecutions have resulted in substantial fines for employers, with individual cases resulting in fines exceeding £200,000.
Protect Against HAVS: A Guide for Employers
Legal requirement
All employers are legally required to take reasonable steps to protect the workforce against vibration induced medical conditions, and some methods are more effective than others.
Vibration - the damage done
Any work that includes regular and frequent exposure to vibration through the hands or arms can lead to debilitating and permanent health problems. Most commonly this is caused by the use of a tool that vibrates during use.
The impact can be felt from using drills, impact wrenches, circular saws, reciprocating saws, dual action sanders, polishers, grinders, impact hammers, SDS drills, jig saws, impact drivers, strimmers, lawn mowers, blowers…
Regular and frequent exposure to vibration can cause damage to the nerves, blood vessels, muscles and joints of the hands and arms. Symptoms can include pain, tingling and numbness in the fingers, reduced grip strength and vibration white finger. This can happen in as little as six months. Exposure to vibration is also associated with conditions including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Raynaud’s Phenomenon. These can swiftly lead to loss of fine motor skills (doing up buttons, using a pen), reduced strength and grip and muscle wasting. This debilitating condition can impact the sufferer’s day to day life and can them struggling to work in the very industry which caused it in the first place.
Now increasingly evidence is linking a condition called Dupuytren’s contracture to the use of vibrating tools as well. Dupuytren’s appears as a permanent tightening of the muscles, tendons, skin, and nearby tissues that causes the joints to shorten and become very stiff. It mainly affects the ring and little fingers, often in both hands. It is a progressive condition, getting gradually worse, and the only treatment is surgery to straighten the fingers.
Whole-body vibration occurs when the body is shaken or jolted through repeated vibration of a seat or the floor. This can happen after prolonged driving or riding on a vehicle along unmade roads, operating earth-moving machines or standing on a structure attached to a large, powerful, fixed machine which is either impacting or vibrating. Symptoms can include backache, motion sickness, fatigue, vision impairment, bone damage, digestive conditions, respiratory conditions, bladder problems, damage to the reproductive organs (it has even been linked to sill birth), heart conditions and even brain damage.
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