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• 1839 - Pneumatic tools were first used in French mines
• 1862 - Primary Raynaud's Phenomenon (Raynaud's Disease) identified.
• 1911 - Professor Loriga first described vascular spasm in the hands of
Italian miners using pneumatic tools.
• 1918 - Alice Hamilton studied miners using drills in limestone quarries
describing spastic anaemia of the hands.
• 1930-40s - Cases of white finger were identified studies in fettlers, riveters,
boot and shoe industry workers and users of electrical powered rotating
tools
• 1950s - Research links signs and symptoms in nerves, bones, joints and
muscles with vibrating tools.
• 1968-69 - After 12-14 years of continuous chain saw use widespread
complaints of VWF in operators.
• 1975 - Scale for assessing the extent of vascular injury associated with
vibration white finger published by Taylor-Pelmear
• 1985 - VWF becomes a prescribed disease for Industrial Injuries
Disablement Benefit purposes
A Short History of Occupational Vibration
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• 1987 - Stockholm scale for assessment of VWF published. Standard for
measurement of vibration published in BS 6842.
• 1988 – UK HSE research on exposure to HAV in a number of industries in
Great Britain published.
• 1989 - EC Machinery Directive adopted; includes requirements on HAV.
• 1992 – UK HSE produce guidance on VWF in Foundries
• 1994 – UK HSE publish generic guidance on HAV
• 1997 – UK HSE publish a book of vibration-reduction case studies.
• 30 September 1997 UK High Court awards £127,000 compensation for
VWF to 7 miners, 12,500 more cases in the pipeline
• 2002 - Directive 2002/44/EC on the minimum health and safety
requirements regarding the expo-sure of workers to the risks arising from
physical agents (vibration) was published in the Official Journal of the
European Communities. Member States have 3 Years from 6 July 2002 to
imple-ment the Directive.
• 2005- Introduction of The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations
A Short History of Occupational Vibration
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How Big a Problem is it?
• 5 million people exposed to Hand-Arm Vibration
at work
• 2 million people are exposed to levels of
vibration where there are clear risks of
developing disease.
• Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome is preventable,
but once the damage is done it is permanent.
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What is HAVS?
• HAVS affects the
nerves, blood vessels
muscles, bones and
joints of hand, arm or
wrist
• Severely disabling if
ignored.
• Primarily affects men
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Three Components of HAV’S
• Vascular (blood Vessels)
• Sensorineural defects (Nerves)
• Musculoskeletal (general joint stiffness,
muscle fatigue)
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Recap Control of Vibration at Work
Regulations
• Exposure action value: 2.5 m/s2 A(8)
• Exposure limit value: 5.0 m/s2 A(8)
• General principles
– Assess risks
– Reduce exposure
– Provide training
– Provide health surveillance
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Exposure Action Value (EAV)
2.5 m/s2 A(8)
• Still not a “safe” level of exposure
• Reduce exposure to the lowest reasonably
practicable level; and
• Where exposure still remains above EAV,
implement health surveillance
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Exposure Limit Value (ELV)
5 m/s2 A(8)
• Should prevent the worst exposures
• Ensure employees are not exposed above the
ELV
• If they are, take immediate action to prevent
recurrence
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Company Policy
• Assess the risks
• Reduce exposure to vibration
• Buy “Smooth”
• No employee will be exposed above the daily
Exposure Limit Value (ELV).
• Information, Instruction and training
• Health surveillance
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Assessing Risk
Magnitude of machine vibration .
– Machine inventory
– Manufactures data (be aware)
– Buy equipment data from consultants
– Own test data
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“It is not important to obtain a precise daily
exposure … You just need enough
information to establish whether it is likely
that the exposure action or limit value will
be exceeded”
• HSE L140 paragraph 113
Duration of exposure
Assessing Risk
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2005
• we started a trial of operators recording
exposure using HSE points system
– Operators exaggerated trigger/anger times
2008/2009
• We started calculating operators exposure
Assessing Risk
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Assessing Risk
Calculation of exposure
‘a soundly based estimate of your employees’
exposures and a comparison with the
exposure action value and exposure limit
value’;
HSE L140 paragraph 28
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Eliminate or Reduce Exposure
Change the process
– eliminating or reducing vibration exposure at source;
Select suitable (reduced-vibration) equipment
– 2008 OCS Horticulture Machinery committee developed
• Approved for use data base
• Approved for purchase data base
Operator training
Maintenance of equipment
Time limits, job rotation
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Information, Instruction & Training
• Keep it simple
• HSE pocket cards
• Results of RA
• Record it
• Repeat it regularly
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Information, Instruction & Training
• Tool tags
• Provide information
• HSE points system
• Traffic light’ systems
– Green <2.5m/s2
– Amber >2.5- <5.0m/s2
– Red > 5.0 m/s2
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Information, Instruction & Training
• PPE
– Provide employees with protective clothing when necessary to keep them warm and dry. This will encourage good blood circulation which should help protect them from developing vibration white finger.
– Gloves can be used to keep hands warm, but should not be relied upon to provide protection from vibration
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Health Surveillance
• Tiered system
• Initial questionnaire (Prior to exposure)
• Annual questionnaire (If no problem) – However HSE L140 paragraph 333 recommends that
after three years of reporting no symptoms the employee
should be referred for a consultation with the qualified
person
• Nurse (one or more yes responses)
• Doctor (positive response)
• Specialist tests
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Employees’ Duties
Employees must
• Cooperate with the health surveillance
programme
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HSE
2009/2010 HSE interview operatives
Points raised
• Risk assessment as a start point
• Don’t over quantify
• Use good practice standards
• Evidence of control, not ‘how long to limit’
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Guidance
www.operc.com
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Any Questions?
