RR795 - Triaxial measurements of the performance of anti-vibration gloves
Previous studies of anti-vibration gloves have typically only considered the effect that a glove might have in the direction of compression of the glove material. This project investigates the performance of an anti-vibration glove taking account of the influence that the glove might have in three axes. This requires consideration of the performance of the glove material in both compression and shear. Since the adoption of the revised international standard ISO 5349-1:2001 in the UK as BS EN ISO 5349-1:2001 and the implementation of the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, the technique for assessment of exposure to vibration requires the measurement of data in three axes to provide a total vibration value. It therefore follows that any estimate of the performance of a glove intended to reduce the vibration exposure of an operator should also consider all three vibration axes.
The aim of this investigation is to either confirm or challenge the assertion made by a particular machine manufacturer, that the glove they supply will provide useful attenuation of the vibration generated by their hand-held power tool products.
This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy.
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