Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

Table 15.1
Examples of vibration exposure values meas-
ured by HSE on work equipment
Machine Activity 
Vibration 
reading 
(m/s
2
)
3 tonne
Removal of spoil 
0.78
articulated site
Dumper truck 
Transport of soil 
1.13
25 tonne
Transport of soil 
0.91
articulated 
dumper truck
Bulldozer Dozing 
1.16
4 tonne
Finishing tarmac 
0.86
Twin-drum
80 tonne Rigid
Transport of soil 
1.03
Dumper Truck
Table 15.2
Machines which could produce signifi cant 
whole-body vibration
Preventative and precautionary measures
The control strategy outlined in Chapter 6 can certainly 
be applied to ergonomic risks. The common measures 
used to control ergonomic ill-health effects are:
➤
results of task analysis and identifi cation of repeti-
tive actions
➤
the elimination of vibrating or hazardous tasks by 
performing the job in a different way
Figure 15.3
Injuries which can be caused by hand-arm vibration.
Regular exposure to HAV can cause a range of permanent injuries to hands and arms, collectively
known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). The injuries can incluse damage to the:
Blood 
c
ir
c
ulatory system (e.g. vi
c
bration white finger);
Sensory nerves;
Mus
c
les;
Bones;
Joints
Pins and needles
Severe pain and numbness
Loss of sense of tou
c
h
Loss of grip strength
Painful wrist
(
c
arpal tunnel syndrome)

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