Introduction

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 are designed to protect employees from the ill health effects of hand-arm vibration (HAV) at work.

The biggest risk is to those working in construction, agriculture/ground maintenance. However, there may be a small number of BCC employees who may be at risk due to the nature of their work, for example, Caretakers/Site Managers, grounds maintenance employees, and Technicians.

The types of equipment and tools that could cause a health risk include strimmers, lawn mowers, and handheld power tools. Ill health is caused by regular and frequent exposure to hand-arm vibration; occasional exposure is unlikely to cause ill health.

Health risks to those exposed include tingling and numbness in the fingers, inability to feel things properly, loss of strength in the hands, and pain in the fingers in cold and wet conditions, these effects can be permanent and can severely affect work and social activities.