Hand-arm vibration assessment
A hand-arm vibration assessment should identify vibrating tools, realistic vibration magnitude, daily trigger time and the workers exposed. Repeated exposure can cause permanent vascular and nerve damage, including loss of sensation and grip. The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 set an exposure action value and limit value and require risk to be eliminated or reduced so far as reasonably practicable. Do not use total shift length as trigger time or treat catalogue data as automatically representative. Measure or obtain suitable data for the tool in its actual condition and calculate daily exposure. Select lower-vibration methods, maintain consumables, rotate only where it truly reduces individual exposure, and provide health surveillance for workers who remain at risk.
- ✓Hazards and controls drawn from HSE guidance
- ✓Scored 5x5 risk matrix
- ✓Editable Word and PDF
In short
A risk assessment identifies what could cause harm in your work, who could be harmed and how, and what you do to control the risk. Every employer must make a suitable and sufficient assessment; with five or more employees the significant findings must be recorded.
What it must include
- ✓The hazards in the activity or workplace
- ✓Who might be harmed and how
- ✓Existing controls and further action needed
- ✓Risk rating (e.g. 5x5 likelihood x severity)
- ✓Who does what by when
- ✓Review date and when to review sooner
You stay the duty holder: review the document for your site before work starts. SitePaper is a drafting tool, not a consultancy.