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Lojikglos  
#1 Posted : 17 February 2015 11:44:04(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Lojikglos

HEY GUYS

Major skill fade here


If the Exposure limit value is exceeded then the risk of HAVS or CTS is likely but the HSE Hand Arm Vibration Exposure Calculator has an input box for exposure duration.

This suggests to me that the data is entered after he has finished the task with that tool and like wise with any other vibrating tool he uses that day.....then at the end of the day the total partial exposure points are known

Is it just me but isn't that after the horse has bolted so to speak....would it be a case then that the following day that person who has exceeded the Exposure Limit Value is not allowed to use vibrating tools that day OR is it a case of establishing the exposure limit Values first and limiting ACTUAL exposure Duration through job rotation.

And how does anyone accurately establish trigger time on tools . . . ?

I know its a biggy and need to get this clear in my head

many thanks once again

L
descarte8  
#2 Posted : 17 February 2015 11:54:51(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
descarte8

If the exposure limit value is eceeded, once, or rarely, the risk is not likely. HAVS and CTS take a long time to manifest, there is even an allowance to take into account irregular exposures above the limit in the ACoP.

If you are using a points based system, you could inform the employee of the points per hour of each tool and what their maximum allowance would be, so the user knows their limits.

If an employee exceeded the limit on one day the emphasis would be on identifying why and to reduce exposure the subsequent day / rest of the week. But you are right that you should be able to minimise this occuring through preiot establishment of exposure limit values / points / useage times.

Tool timers (notoriously un-popular) or just employee feedback (a little un-reliable and tends to over estimate actual "trigger" time) can be used to identify actual trigger times.

Best bet is to purchase tools with exposures below the limits to start with, but agree this is not always possible
stuie  
#3 Posted : 17 February 2015 13:20:54(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stuie

There are in line timers that measure the time that the compressed air is flowing; these can be fitted well out of the way and where they cannot easily be tampered with, this does not get around the 'problem' of operators leaving the tool with trigger depressed while they have a break though but they do give a reasonably accurate trigger time - especially if there is no task/operator rotations. Assuming you are using air driven tools of course :-)
Also remember as the tools wear vibration will increase so the manufacturers data is only valid for a period of time before wear sets in.
HTH a little
Stu
toe  
#4 Posted : 17 February 2015 19:34:12(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
toe

I think that you are correct, you are using the HSE tool after the horse has bolted, and I can see how you can come to this conclusion.

How I have used it in the past is to work out how long a person can use the vibrating equipment without going over the exposure levels, i.e. a proactive approach.

By inputting the M/s2 value will give you the exposure points and therefore you can work out how long a person can use the tool for before exceeding the limits
Lojikglos  
#5 Posted : 18 February 2015 07:27:29(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Lojikglos

Thank You Guys

we will be using the HSE tool to assess the maximum Trigger time then Inform site supervision of the maximum usage time before job rotation

L
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