Hand arm vibration (HAV) is a major cause of noteworthy ill health that includes painful disabling disorders of nerves, joints and blood vessels. It comes from the use hand-held power tools. The assessment of hand arm vibration risk is important because HAV is preventable but once the damage has occurred it becomes permanent and hence the need to eliminate the risk. The condition is serous and disabling and causes damages that include inability to perform as required and trigger of painful finger blanching attacks. The cost of inaction caused by the condition is high to both employees and employers. Hand arm risk assessment is essential because it helps companies develop simple and cost effective ways to eliminate the risks of HAVS.
The goal of the assessment is to help companies prevent the occurrence of new HAV cases and thus, allow employees to remain at work without developing disabilities. It also helps companies find out new or alternative work methods that eliminates or reduces the exposure to vibration. The main aim of the hand arm vibration risk assessment is to help companies understand what they need to do to ensure the safety and health of the employees who are exposed to vibration.
The risk assessment should identify areas with risk and people likely to be affected and contain a reasonable estimate to the employee’s exposures. It should also identify what the company needs to do to comply with law and identify individuals who need to be accorded health surveillance and whether they are at risk. The findings of the assessment must be recorded in an action plan. The assessment report should include anything identified as necessary to comply with the law and describe what has been done and what needs to be done within a certain timeframe and who is responsible.
A review of the hand arm vibration risk should be carried out every time circumstances change in the workplace. It should also be carried out regularly to make sure that the company is doing what is required to control the risks.
How to carry out a hand arm vibration risk assessment
The initial stage should be to find out whether there is significant risk in the workplace. This can be done by asking supervisors and employees whether there are processes that involve regular exposure to vibration. It can also be done by finding out whether there are warnings of vibration risks in equipment handbooks or by asking employees whether they have any symptoms of HAV.
During the assessment, the person responsible should make a list of equipment that may cause vibration and what the work they are used in. He or she should also collect detailed information about the equipment such as the model, make, power, and vibration information and vibration risks. He or she should also make a list of employees who use the tools and the jobs they do and indicate accurately how long the employees are in contact with the tool while vibrating. He or she should also find out the tool with the highest vibration and other factors relating the use of the tool such as weight and posture among other possible problems.
The goal of the assessment is to help companies prevent the occurrence of new HAV cases and thus, allow employees to remain at work without developing disabilities. It also helps companies find out new or alternative work methods that eliminates or reduces the exposure to vibration. The main aim of the hand arm vibration risk assessment is to help companies understand what they need to do to ensure the safety and health of the employees who are exposed to vibration.
The risk assessment should identify areas with risk and people likely to be affected and contain a reasonable estimate to the employee’s exposures. It should also identify what the company needs to do to comply with law and identify individuals who need to be accorded health surveillance and whether they are at risk. The findings of the assessment must be recorded in an action plan. The assessment report should include anything identified as necessary to comply with the law and describe what has been done and what needs to be done within a certain timeframe and who is responsible.
A review of the hand arm vibration risk should be carried out every time circumstances change in the workplace. It should also be carried out regularly to make sure that the company is doing what is required to control the risks.
How to carry out a hand arm vibration risk assessment
The initial stage should be to find out whether there is significant risk in the workplace. This can be done by asking supervisors and employees whether there are processes that involve regular exposure to vibration. It can also be done by finding out whether there are warnings of vibration risks in equipment handbooks or by asking employees whether they have any symptoms of HAV.
During the assessment, the person responsible should make a list of equipment that may cause vibration and what the work they are used in. He or she should also collect detailed information about the equipment such as the model, make, power, and vibration information and vibration risks. He or she should also make a list of employees who use the tools and the jobs they do and indicate accurately how long the employees are in contact with the tool while vibrating. He or she should also find out the tool with the highest vibration and other factors relating the use of the tool such as weight and posture among other possible problems.