Nancy Henry HSENI Inspector Lead Inspector for noise and vibration - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Nancy Henry

HSENI Inspector Lead Inspector for noise and vibration

content

What is the problem What are the health effects Sources of vibration Legal requirements Sources of information Solutions Questions

Courtesy of OPERC

What’s the problem!

What is hand-arm vibration? Hand-arm vibration is vibration transmitted

into your hands and arms e.g. when you use hand-held powered work equipment.

Too much exposure to hand-arm vibration

can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and carpal tunnel syndrome.

• About 5 million exposed to HAV at work
• About 1 million exposed above ELV
• Greatest numbers in construction industry and

related trades but highest levels in Foundries, stone masons and heavy fabrication.

Serious, disabling and costly … … but preventable

Health effects

Neurological component

numbness, tingling, reduced

sense of touch & temperature

main cause of disability in

advanced cases

Health effects

Vascular component

“vibration white finger” episodes of finger

blanching

typically cold-induced

attacks

Health effects

Musculoskeletal component Carpal tunnel syndrome is a nerve disorder which may involve pain, tingling, numbness and weakness in parts of the hand.

What causes the problem

Vibrating hand held tools

Mixing plaster Nail gun

Chainsaw Angle grinder

Hammer action tools

Stationary work piece e.g. grinding, sanding

Stationery work piece e.g. riveting

hand guided machinery

Plate compacter rammer

Hedge cutters Strimmers

IDENTIFY

• Do your employees regularly operate hammer action

tools for more than about 15 minutes per day; or

• Some rotary and other action tools for more than about
• ne hour per day
• You are also at risk if you hold work pieces, which

vibrate while being processed e.g. powered machinery such as pedestal grinders.

ASSESS

Risk assessment – exposure of employee

Legal limits

Daily exposure limit value 5 m/s2 A(8) Daily exposure action value 2.5 m/s2 A(8)

Exposure likely to be above action value? – Action plan to reduce exposure and start health surveillance Exposure above limit value? – Immediate action

Suspect any process that causes tingling or numbness after 5 - 10 minutes continuous use.

Assess

Magnitude of vibration Duration – trigger time

Interactive exposure spreadsheet on HSE website

Points system to assess exposure

• All values are exposure

points

• Colours show exposures re.

EAV & ELV

Manufacturers data

manufacturers are now working to new Standard tests

written to address the requirements of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008

new Standard tests are intended both to facilitate

comparison of the vibration emissions of different models

• f equipment and to be suitable for initial estimates of

exposure.

You will still need to check with the manufacturer that the

vibration emission declared in the instruction manual is representative of your normal use of the equipment.

CONTROL

AT SOURCE Selection of work equipment: maintenance: positive purchasing policy

Limit daily exposure: Job rotation: warm clothing

Anti Vibration gloves

“they are not particularly effective at reducing the frequency-weighted vibration associated with risk of HAVS and they can increase the vibration at some frequencies” (HSE website)

Reduce exposure time e.g.

• Automate
• Rotate
• Regular breaks

Reduce vibration e.g.

• Mechanise
• Rigs, jigs &

clamps

• Lower

emission equipment

Correct selection of equipment Correct operation of equipment -– especially important with some vibration-reduced designs How to recognise (and report) symptoms of HAVS How to minimise risk (exercising fingers, keeping warm, breaks from exposure, not smoking, etc.)

Information, instruction and training for operators

• Example – vibration reduced

breaker:

1.

Keep the moil point sharp

2.

Break a little at a time,

3.

Don’t get jammed

4.

Don’t force antivibration

5.

handles

6.

Stop breaker before pulling out

Operator training

Control – tool selection

• Vibration can be very

different between tools

• An under-powered or

inefficient tool can increase vibration exposure

Tool selection – the balance

Larger tool

• Increased vibration emissions
• Increased stress on hands/arms

Smaller tool

• increased grip force
• increased exposure to

vibration

Control – keep hands warm

Temperature Problems Air exhausts can cool operators' hands which makes them more susceptible to the effects of vibration. Cold handles can also produce a similar effect. Solutions Scrap tubing and an old gauntlet were used to direct exhaust air away from the hands. Rubber sleeving can also be used as insulation on metal handles to keep hands warmer.

Control – tool selection

Vibration magnitude in m/s2 Time before daily exposure exceeds2.8 m/s2 A(8) Daily exposure time Daily exposure(m/s2 A(8)) Traditional breaker design (typical) 12 26 minutes 3 hours 7.3 New breaker design 8 1 hour 3 hours 5

Control – maintenance

chainsaw anti-vibration rubber bushes

Control - maintenance

Vibration magnitude in m/s2 Time before daily exposure exceeds 2.8 m/s2 A(8) Daily exposure time Daily exposure(m/s2 A(8)) Before

9.7 40 minutes 2 hours 4.8

after

5.4 2 hours 2 hours 2.7

Control -Mechanisation removes the risk

Machine-mounted pick replaces

hand-operated breakers

Control

Removing defects in steel castings using a chipping hammer.

Sleeves cost approximately £5 each.

Control - rig / jig

Control - Demolition without vibration

Use hydraulic crushers instead of demolition

hammers

Control - power tools purchasing policy

The cost

Minimal as tools would be replaced at the

end of their life anyway.

Control – purchasing policy

Vibration magnitude in m/s2 Time before daily exposure exceeds2.8 m/s2 A(8) Daily exposure time Daily exposure(m/s2 A(8))

Old strimmer 15 17 minutes 4 hours 11 New strimmer 4 4 hours 4 hours 2.8

Health surveillance

is vital to detect and respond to early signs of damage

Health surveillance is there to:

• Identify new employees whose health

may place them at greater risk,

• Protect existing employees from further

harm,

• Allow employers to identify how effective

their control measures are.

Health surveillance - when

HAVS

• Regular exposure above 2.5 m s-2 (A8)
• Irregular exposure above 2.5 m s-2 (A8)

but frequency and severity is a risk

• When Individuals already diagnosed

with HAVS

Health surveillance

• Important for HAVS because:

– Some high exposures may be unavoidable – there is no effective personal protective equipment

Health surveillance - how

Tiers

• Tier 1 Pre-exposure baseline
• Tier 2 Annual screening
• Tier 3 Clinical assessment
• Tier 4 Formal diagnosis
• Tier 5 Optional tests

How can I arrange health surveillance?

Basic health surveillance consists of regularly seeking

information about early symptoms of ill health by using a

• questionnaire. It may help you keep costs down if you carry out

this function yourself, referring any positive responses to an

• ccupational health service provider.

Alternatively, you could ask an occupational health service

provider to provide a complete service on your behalf. You should be able to find details of occupational health service providers from your trade association, your local telephone directory, the internet or EMAS

Further Information on Health surveillance Health surveillance for HAVS – guidance for employers Health surveillance for HAVS – guidance for Occupational Health Professionals Health Surveillance Questionnaires Initial screening questionnaire Annual screening questionnaire Clinical questionnaire

Further information - HSE

www.hse.gov.uk/vibration

Further information

Manufacturers handbook Databases www.las-bb.de/karla/index_.htm http://vibration.arbetslivinstitutet.se/eng/havhome.laso

• www.hse.gov.uk

www.operc.com

ANY QUESTIONS?