HAV good practice controls

Hand arm vibration can be a significant health risk wherever powered hand tools are used for significant lengths of time. This is especially so in foundries construction and heavy fabrication including ship building.

HSE has identified some established good practice controls that can help to eliminate or reduce vibration risk in these industries and in others. HSE inspectors are promoting these controls during inspections in these sectors and will expect to see evidence of the elimination of vibration risks or of their reduction to the lowest level that is reasonably practicable. Where vibration risks remain, inspectors will be looking for evidence that the risks are being managed adequately and that suitable health surveillance is in place. Follow the industry links below for information on established good practice for managing HAV risks.

Each industry page includes:

  • Information on alternative processes to avoid/reduce use of vibrating equipment. In HSE's experience these are reasonably practicable in many circumstances.
  • Information on management of HAV risks where use of vibrating equipment is unavoidable
  • Links to further information & case studies

Link URLs in this page

  1. Vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/index.htm
  2. Hand arm vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/index.htm
  3. About this websitehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/about.htm
  4. Key messageshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/keymessages.htm
  5. Worried about your handshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/yourhands.htm
  6. Overview - Advice for employershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/index.htm
  7. Employers responsibilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/responsibilities.htm
  8. Assess riskhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/assessrisks.htm
  9. Overview - How to protect workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/protect.htm
  10. Control riskhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/controlrisks.htm
  11. Information and traininghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/information.htm
  12. Health surveillancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/healthsurveillance.htm
  13. Overview - Good practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/index.htm
  14. Overview - Foundrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/index.htm
  15. Eliminate fettling by improving casting qualityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/fettlingelimination.htm
  16. Machining as a substitute for fettlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/machining.htm
  17. Automatic fettlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/automaticfettling.htm
  18. Jig-mounting of grindershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/jigmounting.htm
  19. Semi-automatic cut off machinehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/cutoffmachine.htm
  20. Isolated casting cut offhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/isolatedcasting.htm
  21. Installation of hydraulic cropping machinehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/hydrauliccropping.htm
  22. Shell knockout 1https://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/castingshell.htm
  23. Shell knockout 2https://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/contactcastingshell.htm
  24. Hydraulic pushouthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/furnaceliningremoval.htm
  25. Ladle slag chippinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/chippingslag.htm
  26. Overview - Constructionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/index.htm
  27. Preparing a code of practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/tunnelling.htm
  28. Construction Industry Council guidancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/cicguidance.htm
  29. Mounted breakerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/mountedroadbreaker.htm
  30. Directional drillinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/directionaldrilling.htm
  31. Crushing concretehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/crushingconcrete.htm
  32. Bursting concretehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/burstingconcrete.htm
  33. Diamond wire cuttinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/diamondwire.htm
  34. Water jettinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/waterjetting.htm
  35. Codes of Practice from the Water Jetting Associationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/codeofpractice.htm
  36. Grit blastinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/gritblasting.htm
  37. Paint-on retarderhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/paintonmaterial.htm
  38. Special formworkhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/specialformwork.htm
  39. Overview - Steel fabricationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/index.htm
  40. Machininghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/cncmachining.htm
  41. Laser cuttinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/lasercutter.htm
  42. Plasma cuttinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/plasmacutting.htm
  43. Noise reduction in the ship repair industry – research report 1992https://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/noisereduction.htm
  44. Abrasive blastershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/abrasiveblasters.htm
  45. Overview - Regulationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/regulations.htm
  46. Inspector briefinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/inspectorbriefing.htm
  47. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/information.htm
  48. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/publications.htm
  49. Researchhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/research.htm
  50. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/statistics.htm
  51. Useful linkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/links.htm
  52. Vibration calculatorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/calculator-guide.htm
  53. Overview - Case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/casestudies/index.htm
  54. (HAVS) in two motor companieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/casestudies/enforceex.htm
  55. Monitoring exposure to Hand-Arm Vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/casestudies/mhav-carlwest.htm
  56. Overview - Supply project eventshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/project-events.htm
  57. Controlling vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/controlling-vibration.htm
  58. Q & A on hand toolshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/hand-tools-qa.htm
  59. Q & A on using a vibration consultanthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/qa-consultant.htm
  60. Q & A on health surveillancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/qa-surveillance.htm
  61. Foundrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/index.htm
  62. Constructionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/index.htm
  63. Heavy steel fabrication (including shipyards)https://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/index.htm
  64. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/publications.htm
  65. Vibration calculatorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/calculator-guide.htm

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2022-09-28