Hand Arm Vibration Guidance - PowerPoint Presentation

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Hand Arm Vibration Guidance

How Can I prevent it?Use low vibration tools.Try a different approach to your job.Use the right tool for the job.Keep blades and cutting edges sharp.Reduce grip and pressure, allow the tool to do the work.Ensure the tool has been properly maintained. Reduce the amount of time you use the tool. Rotate the usage What else can I do?Learn to Recognise the signs of HAVS. Stop work and report any symptoms to your supervisor immediately. Use any control measures provided, i.e. gloves etc, that your employer will provide. Ask for advice from occupational health if in doubt

A disorder which affects the blood vessels, nerves and muscles of the hand, wrist and forearm.

Can be severely disabling.

Also known as Vibration White Finger.

1 Million workers are exposed to high levels of vibration, of those 460,000 are estimated to be working in construction.

Approx. 800 cases of HAVS are reported every year.

Symptoms

The blood vessels (fingers go white) hence the name vibration white finger (VWF).

The nerves in the fingers (causing pins and needles and loss of feeling).

Bones and muscles (causing pain and loss of strength in the joints).

The symptoms are usually at their worst when conditions are cold and wet.

Who is at Risk?

Users of the following examples of vibrating equipment;

– Chipping hammers

– Drills

– Rotary Saws

– Grinders etc

Those exposed to vibrating equipment at work.

Those with disease’s that reduce blood flow.

Workers in cold and damp conditions.

Smokers.

Assessment of Daily exposure Limits – Ready Reckoner

Guide Find the vibration magnitude (level) for the tool or process (or the nearest value) on the grey scale on the left of the table.Find the exposure time (or the nearest value) on the grey scale across the bottom of the table.Find the value in the table that lines up with the magnitude and time. The maximum amount of units after which ACTION is required in an 8 hour NORMAL working day =100 per person. The maximum units that shall not be exceeded in an 8 hour NORMAL working day = 400 per person.Compare the points value with the exposure action and limit values (100 and 400 points respectively). In this example the score of 150 points lies above the exposure action value.As long as you have a vibration magnitude level and an accurate exposure time, translating this into HSE exposure points is easy. For the most common exposure times and vibration magnitudes you can use the table below. Simply cross reference your exposure time with your vibration magnitude and you can not only find the exposure points, but also which category the points falls in. The colour of the square containing the exposure points value tells you whether the exposure exceeds, or is likely to exceed, the exposure action or limit value. For example, an operator working for three hours on a tool emitting a vibration magnitude of 5m/s2 would translate into 150 points.

Assessment of Daily exposure Limits – Ready Reckoner

Guide Remember cumulative exposure; If using more that one tool, plan the work using the ready reckoner to establish duration and exposure points.For example 2 tools with vibration magnitude: 3.5 used for 30mins = 13points 7m/s2 for 1hr = 98 points Total points for 1 day = 111pointsIn the example above, the cumulative exposure lies above the exposure action value. To stay below exposure value, the operator will need to reduce exposure time for tool 2 to 30mins.It is important that work is planned and exposure times established as part of the task risk assessment prior to commencing the task.

Ready Reckoner

Control MeasuresEliminate - By using another methodReduce - By Job rotation and use low vibration toolsIsolate - Use remote tools if availableControl - By risk assessment - Follow written procedures and instruction - Adhere to warning signs - Use only appropriate sharp tools - Wear warm clothing - Wear appropriate PPE - Monitor and record usage times and points