Hand-Arm Vibration Exposure Calculator

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome

The topic under discussion is about what Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) Risk Assessment is and what the risks are to their workforce/employees from using handheld power tools, equipment and tools.

If employees are using high vibrating power tools, machinery, or tools such as riveters, drills, power saws, sanders and so on, continuously then they are at high risk of getting painful and debilitating destruction to nerves and circulation in the hands and arms, this term is known as Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). Other disorders such as Vibration White Finger (VWBS) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) are forms of HAVS.

A Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) Assessment targets to achieve which power tools or work activities cause HAVC Syndrome, and to know which type of employees are at risk of severe exposure to vibration at their area of work activities, and then it helps to decide what we need to do to protect the workforce involved in such of the high possibility of HAVS syndrome.

HAVS Assessment to Eliminate HAVS

For the elimination of HAVS, we will follow the hierarchy of control specific to this issue.

Vibration White Finger Hand Arm Vibration (VWFHAV) Risk Assessment Needs to Identify:

Where vibration risks might come from for example measure the vibration exposure capability of each power tool, machinery or heavy equipment that the employees use using a Hand Arm Vibration meter).
The second step of the hierarchy of control is to know who is possibly to be at high risk from exposure to such vibration.
what we require to do as an employer to comply with the applicable local and international law e.g. what vibration control measures are required to eliminate and/or reduce vibration) and how we will implement them.
Any employees who require to be provided with ongoing health surveillance.
The rule of law in Europe governing vibration is the EU Control of Vibration Regulations 2005. In the UK this is implemented by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). And for the UAE, we will follow the Technical guidelines, SOP’s, safety guidelines of Abu Dhabi Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHAD)

The findings of risk assessment should be documented along with a project action plan of anything we identify as mandatory to comply with the local and international laws, standards, SOP’s and procedures

What Do We Measure in a Hand Arm Vibration (HAVS) Risk Assessment?

How to carry out a HAVS assessment (hand-arm vibration assessment) You measure the potential a power tool, for instance, has to damage someone. The operation of a power tool is measured using a handheld vibration meter, such as the Pulsar VB; this tells you the total vibration (Vector Sum) of the tool along with 3- axis x. y. z (into the hand-palm, across the knuckles, and up the arm) of the employee/worker using the machinery or tool. Here, WE can use the software provided with the meter, or the HSEs calculator, to work out the potential Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) exposure from the tool/equipment or machinery, and how long a worker can utilize it for prior they are at high risk of severe damage.

The risk assessment for the HAVS needed to facilitate us to decide whether our employees' exposures are likely to be above the Exposure Action Value (EAV) or Exposure Limit Value (ELV) and to detect which work task/activity we require to control.

Values Set Out for HAVS by Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)

The daily Exposure ACTION value (EAV): 2.5 m/s2 A (8).
The daily Exposure LIMIT value (ELV): 5 m/s2 A (8).

We should limit the exposure of workers to make sure they do not exceed the Exposure ACTION value EAV. We should minimize the exposure of any employee who exceeds the Exposure ACTION value (EAV) and carry out regular screening & health surveillance. If any of the employees meet the Exposure LIMIT value (ELV), as being an employer or responsible person, we are breaking the law and we must find alternatives and various strategies to reduce their exposure to within the legal limits as per required by the state’s rules, regulations, and standards.

Required Period for Conducting the Hand Arm Vibration (HAVS) Risk Assessment.

The mandatory initiative is to check, observe and monitor the power tools, equipment or machinery frequently such as once in a year to make sure that they haven’t damaged and their vibration assessment hasn’t altered. We may also require to review assessments if any changes occur to a worker’s job or tool or machinery is in critical or the worker has an excessive duration of interaction with such tools.

The Assessor of Hand Arm Vibration (HAVS) Risk Assessment Task

If you have technical knowledge, competent and authority, then it is simple to carry out the risk assessment by yourself using detecting vibration devices like the Pulsar Vb.