I was wondering if members could offer some advice on a situation? We're a medium/large manufacturing site and as a result employ engineers who on occasion use hand tools. The use is very limited and tends to be about 10 minutes a week on average (obviously depending on what work needs doing. This is limited to battery drills, dremels that sort of thing i.e. nothing heavy. To demonstrate that we've controlled the situation what we currently do is: 1. Ascertain m/s2 figures for all the equipment in use from either HAVTEC or manufacturers readings doubled as per HSE guidance. 2. Have a controlled replacement list so that like-for-like (or better) equipment is purchased 3. Brief the employees with the ratings of the tools they use as part of training and how long they should ues each for over the day and in combination. 4. Risk assess the use of handtools (which due to low use shows low risk) 5. Do spot log checks whereby each engineer on a quaterly basis records a weeks worth of hand tool use to demonstrate typical exposure levels. 6. Convert this recorded useage as per the HSE calculator to generate an exposure rate. 7. Record/file information To me, we dont believe we have an issue due to the low use and relatively low rating of the tools used and so its just a case of demonstrating this belief by all of the above. The problem is that we've now had it recommended to use following an insurers audit that we ask the engineers to record ALL use of handtools. This means that they'd have to record every single time they use a handtool and fill the record log out. Whilst I can see the value in this in that you'd have a 24/7/365 record of each individuals exposure, its totally disproportinate to the level of risk. As you can imagine, the engineers arent particularly happy about it either. Any advice?

No, its just a recommendation at this stage. But with most things the insurers 'recommend' you have to have a good reason not to adopt it otherwise it'll become an 'insistance' on their next audit. I think the system we currently have is adequate so I guess I'm just looking for external validation of either the insurers view or of our system.

Jason First thing is that there have been changes to the HSE advice on ‘doubling up’ see http://www.hse.gov.uk/vi...ion/hav/publications.htm It is difficult to believe that the sort of exposures you are looking at would result in your staff reaching anywhere near the the EAV let alone the ELV. The HSE ready reckoner shows that a 15 minute exposure of around 14 – 15 m/s2 would be required to reach the EAV and around 25-26 m/s2 to reach the ELV. We use blowers, strimmers, chainsaws, hedgecutters etc that aren’t anywhere near those levels; so (without knowing the vibration levels) I very much doubt that a Dremmel or similar would likely be a significant problem. I suggest you go back to your insurer and in a diplomatic way tell them to have a rethink. I would think you have far bigger fish to fry.

Thanks for all the replies. Most appreciated. I forgot to mention that we do cover health surveillance off too. All employees undergo an annual medical whereby one of the issues approached is symptoms of vibrational damage. Stevie, I think you're right on the reasoning. The response I got when I asked the question was 'how do you demonstrate that for the period you're not monitoring that the employees arent using power tools 8 hours a day?'. We dont have a history of related claims and perhaps he was just having a bad day. thanks again everyone.