Exposure to whole-body and hand-arm vibrations

New European legislation 
Minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from whole-body and hand-arm vibrations are embedded in European legislation from July 1st, 2005. This means that the use of vehicles and machines, for example forklift trucks, tractors, collar saws, barn machines, et cetera is restricted to a legal daily action value and exposure limit. Epidemiologic research showed that the use of vibrating vehicles and hand machines can cause (often irreversible) health complaints when these values are exceeded. Exposure to whole-body vibrations can cause low-back disorders like a hernia of the intervertebral disc. Exposure to hand-arm vibrations can damage bones, cartilage, veins and arteries or nerves in hands and arms at the long term. The so-called vibration white finger is a typical example that causes cold, white and insensible fingers. 

When is the vibration value too high? 
The height of the vibration value mainly depends on the type of vehicle or hand machine, and especially on the duration that an employee is exposed. Vehicles that produce many vibrations can expose the user to an increased risk in just two hours. Intensively vibrating hand machines can even put the user at risk in half an hour. In that case determining the vibration values by an expert is strongly recommended.

New expertise of vhp ergonomics 
vhp ergonomics dedicated a chapter to whole-body and hand-arm vibration in the ‘Handboek Fysieke Belasting’ (Dutch handbook for physical strain) and the ‘Handboek Ergonomie’ (Dutch handbook for ergonomics) since 1995. Nevertheless, most ergonomic professionals paid little attention to vibrations for a long time. However, the new legislation puts the theme on the map more and more in several company branches. For this reason we improved our expertise on the topic. vhp ergonomics mirrors your vehicle and machine park to the new legislation and offers practical tailored solutions.