Vibration exposure

Workers utilizing powered tools or machinery face potential health risks from prolonged exposure to vibration. While these effects are preventable, once damage occurs, it may become permanent, rendering it nearly impossible for individuals to sustain their work.

Vibration exposure

Mechanical vibrations are recurring movements occurring at various frequencies and in various directions around a central equilibrium position. When workers operate hand-held power tools, hand-guided equipment, or handle materials processed by hand-fed machines, vibrations can transmit into their hands and arms, constituting hand-arm vibration. Similarly, whole-body vibration affects workers who operate mobile machinery or vehicles like dumpers, excavators, or agricultural tractors over rough terrain, with vibrations transmitted through the seat or feet.

Workers who operate excavators are exposed to whole-body vibration. ^{© G. Tjalvin}

Workers using a pneumatic hammer are exposed to hand-arm vibration, and can develop conditions including hand-arm vibration syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as low back pain and arthrosis. ^{© Colourbox}

To estimate a worker’s exposure to hand-arm vibration, a hand-arm vibration calculator can be utilized, considering vibration magnitude and exposure duration for different tools or processes. For further information, refer to the provided link: The hand-arm vibration exposure calculator.

A vibratory plate compactor is used to compact soil, gravel, or asphalt before paving or construction projects. The amount of hand-arm vibration the worker is exposed to while using a vibratory plate compactor vary depending on the specific model, the duration of use, the surface being compacted, and the operator’s technique. Typically, plate compactors produce vibrations in the range of 5 to 20 meters per second squared (m/s²) at the operator’s hands.

In many regions, there are regulations and guidelines in place to limit the level of hand-arm vibration exposure that workers can be subjected to over a given period. For example, in the European Union, the Exposure Action Value (EAV) for hand-arm vibration is set at 2.5 m/s², and the Exposure Limit Value (ELV) is set at 5.0 m/s² over an 8-hour time-weighted average.