Help us to improve the website - give your feedback.

Information and training for operators and supervisors

Unless you have succeeded in preventing vibration exposures entirely by eliminating all processes which involve HAV, you will need the co-operation of your workforce to help make your control measures effective. It is important that you provide your operators and their supervisors with information about the risks from vibration and that they receive the required instruction and training in the correct use and maintenance of the equipment (your employees have a duty to co-operate when you take action to comply with health and safety legislation). You should consult employees' safety representatives about the planning and organisation of your health and safety training.

They may also need to be trained in working techniques, for example to help avoid excessive gripping, pushing and guiding forces and to ensure the tools are operated safely and with optimum efficiency. With some tools, the operator's hands must be in the correct position to avoid unnecessarily high vibration exposure. Many modern vibration-reduced tools, such as breakers with suspended handles, do not deliver the lower vibration emissions unless they are operated correctly. The manufacturer or supplier should advise you of any training requirements, and may offer training for operators. Workers should also be encouraged to:

  • Use the lightest tool capable of doing the work safely and efficiently;
  • Support the tool as much as possible on the material being worked, letting its weight provide the downward force;
  • Rest hand-held workpieces on any support provided; and
  • Hold the tool, machine or workpiece with a light but safe grip.

Finally, adequate training and supervision will be required to ensure that your workers are adopting the practices listed above for protecting themselves against the development of vibration-related disease. They should be encouraged to report any symptoms (such as numbness, tingling or whiteness of the fingers), which may be associated with exposure to vibration.

If your employees are in a health surveillance scheme you should explain the importance of this, and give them information on the findings. This may provide a regular opportunity for one-to-one discussions of the vibration hazard and how to reduce the risk.

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 noise in heavy fabrication SIM 03/1001/14 https://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/sims/manuf/3_01_14.htm
  62. Hand-arm vibration at work: A brief guide https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg175.htm
  63. Hand-arm vibration: Advice for employees https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg296.htm
  64. Advice for employershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/HAV/advicetoemployers/index.htm
  65. Regulationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/HAV/regulations.htm
  66. How to protect workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/HAV/advicetoemployers/protect.htm
  67. Constructionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm
  68. Engineeringhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/engineering/index.htm
  69. Motor vehicle repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/index.htm
  70. Noisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/index.htm
  71. Quarrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/quarries/index.htm
  72. Agriculturehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm

Is this page useful?

2021-05-20