Posted By Ian Clay1 Ken I may be able to get hold of a policy for you from a client, the first thing that I would recomend is that you get a test of all your hand held equipment for a safe usage time in line with the new directive. There is some good information on the HSE web site also. If you require any info on machinery testing or require any costings please get in touch as I am a small business who carries out that service.

Posted By Brian Hagyard Ken Try Vibration Exposure in the Tools section on HSE web site. Brian

Posted By Ron Hunter Is someone else's Policy going to fix this for you Ken? I don't think so. From what you describe, your employer is failing to manage and control a significant risk to the workforce. As previous postings suggest, there is a wealth of info from HSE and other sites on this topic. See also a recent posting on the same topic. As a parallel, what were your audit findings on control of noise? Is there a positive purchasing policy? are there adequate maintenance regimes? is there control of exposure by engineering means? Are safe working practices identified and adhered to? Does your employer have adequate health surveillance programs in place? Is the workforce trained and knowledgable? HAVs requires a similar approach, but don't, don't, don't encourage the use of so-called "anti-vibration gloves"!!!!!

Posted By Descarte Thing I have done in past - get a list of the tools which are used on site that could cause potential VWF, power tools, pneumatic wrenches etc... Get a list of worker types who will using these regularly, maintenance, excavators etc... For each of the tools monitor (in use) the vibration of 2 or 3 i.e. drills, grinders, needle guns... can be done with a simple 3directional monitor fixed to handle securly with collar at one or two hold points Based on the results catagorise a daily exposure limit for each tool+colour code. i.e. green can use all day orange can use for upto 4 hrs red can use for upto 1 hr Supervisors can then plan job rotation around tasks which involve use of vibrating tools to help reduce potentially harmful amounts of vibration towards employees. Obviously very high risk tools that are required for long periods of time will require a large turn over of employees, but you will reduce exposure and potential damage. What else you will need is a purchasing policy for all new equipment - which on websites gives vibration levels (when new), aim for lower obviously with a judgement on cost / benifit. Also look to replace very high exposure tools with less harmful equivilents. This is just something I have done on a major site in past which worked and was managed well even during shutdowns