Hand-arm vibration

Hand-arm vibration (HAV) is a common hazard for construction, manufacturing and agricultural workers who use hand-held power tools and hand-guided machinery, such as:

  • grinders and hammer drills, or
  • chainsaws and pedestal grinders.

HAV can damage your bones, joints, muscles, nerves, tendons and ligaments in your hands and arms. This can cause pain and muscle weakness.

The symptoms of HAV can have a serious impact on your employment, social life and family life. Everyday tasks including opening jars, turning doorknobs and buttoning shirts may become difficult. With prolonged exposure, the effects may become permanent.

It is vital you use the right controls to reduce your exposure to HAV.

How HAV affects workers

Frequent and prolonged HAV can turn into hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). HAVS can include:

  • Vibration-induced white finger: a form of Raynaud’s disease where the blood vessels and nerves become damaged. Symptoms include blanching, numbness, tingling, pain, loss of grip strength and reduced feeling.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome: a wrist condition where inflamed connective tissues compress the nerve, causing pain, tingling, muscle weakness and numbness in the forearm and hand.
  • Musculoskeletal disorders: bone, joint and soft tissue damage. Symptoms include hand and arm pain and reduced strength.
  • Nerve disorders, causing tingling, numbness, reduced sensory perception and loss of dexterity in the fingers and hands.

Factors that can increase HAV exposure

Physical factors:

  • acceleration and frequency of vibration
  • duration of exposure to vibration
  • poor tool design
  • poor tool maintenance
  • limited or no handle insulation

Work environment and organisation:

  • cold temperatures
  • hardness of materials in contact with hand-held tools such as cement and rock

Individual factors:

  • smoking
  • disease or prior injury to the fingers or hands
  • individual susceptibility to vibration
  • grip (how hard the worker grasps vibrating equipment)

How HAV is measured

You can measure the vibration on the tools or work pieces that are in contact with the operator’s hand.

A competent person must measure for HAV using the following standards:

  • AS ISO 5349.1 – 2013: Part 1: Mechanical vibration – Measurement and evaluation to human exposure to hand transmitted vibration - General requirements, and
  • AS ISO 5349.2 – 2013: Part 2: Mechanical vibration – Measurement and evaluation to human exposure to hand transmitted vibration - Practical guidance for measurement at the workplace.

Data from equipment manufacturers is also a useful tool for estimating HAV.

Workplace exposure standards

There are currently no legislated workplace exposure standards established for HAV.

A comparison of vibration magnitude can be made using an acceptable standard to determine a worker’s risk of HAV exposure.

The exposure action and limit values outlined within the European Union (EU) 2002/44/EC Physical Agents Directive is one such standard that can be applied to assess workers daily exposure, A(8).

The directive offers the following exposure values for HAV:

  • Exposure Action Value (EAV) – if the daily vibration exposure is likely to exceed an A(8) of 2.5m/s2 action should be taken to reduce exposure to below this value.

  • Exposure Limit Value (ELV) – controls must be implemented to ensure workers are not exposed to a daily vibration exposure A(8) of more than 5.0m/s2.

What employers must do

Section 19 of the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act 2011 states that a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a primary duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that worker exposure to HAV is eliminated. Where elimination is not reasonably practicable, the PCBU must minimise the risk so far as is reasonably practicable.

Clause 60 of the WHS Regulation 2017 states you must manage your workers’ risks of developing musculoskeletal disorders from hazardous manual tasks, including HAV.

As a PCBU, you must:

  • identify work processes that expose workers to HAV
  • eliminate the risk so far as reasonably practicable
  • if not reasonably practicable to eliminate the risk, minimise the risk by implementing control measures in accordance with the hierarchy of control
  • review control measures to ensure they remain effective.

When determining control measures, you must consider anything that increases the risk of a musculoskeletal disorder such as:

  • posture
  • vibration
  • frequency and duration of exposure
  • environmental conditions such as cold
  • workplace design and layout.

Duties of designers, manufacturers, importers and suppliers of plant or structures

The best time to eliminate or minimise the risk of exposure to HAV is in the design and planning stages, when hazards and risks can be ‘designed out’ before they are introduced into a workplace.

Clause 61 of the WHS Regulation 2017 states that:

  • Designers and manufacturers must stop or reduce the need for any hazardous manual tasks to be carried out, including the exposure to HAV.
  • Importers and suppliers must get relevant information from the designer or manufacturer and pass this on to their customers.

Control measures

  • Substitution – where practicable, identify alternative work methods that will stop or reduce worker exposure to HAV, such as automation of tasks. PCBUs should check regularly with industry groups, equipment suppliers, and trade journals what methods are available.
  • Equipment design – where practicable, consider the size and weight of the tool and use anti-vibration handles to reduce grip and force pressure.
  • Equipment selection – choose fit-for-purpose equipment such as sharp cutting tools to ensure tasks are completed efficiently.
  • Purchasing policy – buy low vibration. Ensure a policy is in place that considers vibration emissions and operational capability prior to buying equipment.
  • Maintenance – regularly maintain tools and other work equipment to reduce vibration; this may include:
    • lubricate moving parts in line with manufacturers recommendations
    • keep cutting tools sharp
  • Information, training, and instruction – provide workers and supervisors with information on:
    • health effects linked to exposure to HAV
    • control measures used to stop/reduce exposure to HAV at work
    • how to detect and report the signs/symptoms of HAV injury
    • how to report machines/equipment that require maintenance
    • results of vibration risk assessments or vibration measurements
  • Work schedules – use work/rest cycles where workers are given alternate tasks to limit vibration exposure.
  • Warm clothing – provide workers with warm clothing and gloves in cold environments.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – anti-vibration gloves may provide some vibration reduction for tools operating at high rotational speeds. No significant benefit is provided for tools operating at frequencies below 150Hz (9000 rpm).

Health monitoring

There is no legal requirement under the WHS Regulation 2017 for PCBUs to provide health monitoring of workers exposed to HAV.

PCBUs should make sure employees experiencing symptoms of HAVS see a doctor experienced in health monitoring. Medical tests for HAVS may include:

  • Vascular – Allen’s test, cold provocation test.
  • Neurologic – light touch, pin prick, thermal threshold testing, vibration perception threshold.
  • Musculoskeletal – grip and pinch strength.

Related information

SafeWork NSW

Safe Work Australia

Health and Safety Executive (U.K.)

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