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Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (the Vibration Regulations), came into force on 6 July 2005 and aim to protect workers from risks to health from vibration.

The regulations introduce action and limit values for hand-arm and whole-body vibration.

Hand-arm vibration

The regulations introduce an:

  • Exposure action value of 2.5 m/s2 A(8) at which level employers should introduce technical and organisational measures to reduce exposure.
  • Exposure limit value of 5.0 m/s2 A(8) which should not be exceeded.

The regulations allowed for a transitional period from the exposure limit value for hand-arm vibration until 2010 to allow work activities, where the use of older tools and machinery cannot keep exposures below the exposure limit value, to continue in certain circumstances.

The full text of the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005[61] can be viewed online.

Guidance providing advice on practical actions employers can take to control the risks and common sense measures to reduce exposure can be found in the following free leaflets:

Enforcement

Inspectors will act to prevent damage to employee's health where duty holders are failing to comply with the law.

See some examples of enforcement action taken by HSE inspectors[65]

Background to the Vibration Regulations

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 are based on a European Union Directive requiring similar basic laws throughout the Union on protecting workers from risks to their health and safety from vibration. The European Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive (2002/44/EC) deals with risks from vibration at work and is one of several Directives dealing with Physical Agents such as Noise and Vibration. They do not apply to members of the public exposed to vibration from non-work activities.

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 require more specific duties compared to earlier general health and safety regulations such as the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 which still apply. If employers comply with the Vibration Regulations and follow guidance, it should be possible to eliminate any new incidence of disability from hand-arm vibration and to stop employees developing advanced stages of these diseases. There are simple, non-technical and common sense measures which can be introduced to reduce exposure to vibration.

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. Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/1093/contents/made
  62. Hand-arm vibration at work: A brief guide INDG175 (rev3)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg175.htm
  63. Hand-arm vibration INDG296 (rev2)https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg296.htm
  64. HSE bookshttps://books.hse.gov.uk/
  65. See some examples of enforcement action taken by HSE inspectorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vIBRAtIon/hav/casestudies/enforceex.htm
  66. Advice for employers https://www.hse.gov.uk/vIBRAtIon/hav/advicetoemployers/index.htm
  67. Advice for workers https://www.hse.gov.uk/vIBRAtIon/hav/yourhands.htm
  68. Further Informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vIBRAtIon/hav/information.htm
  69. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vIBRAtIon/hav/publications.htm
  70. Vibration calculatorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vIBRAtIon/hav/calculator-guide.htm
  71. Advice for employershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vIBRAtIon/hav/advicetoemployers/index.htm
  72. Regulationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vIBRAtIon/hav/regulations.htm
  73. Constructionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm
  74. MSD - Back painhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/index.htm
  75. Noisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/index.htm
  76. Quarrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/quarries/index.htm
  77. Agriculturehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm

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2024-02-09