Exposure to Vibrations
Mechanical vibration is a repetitive oscillatory motion of part of the body with respect to an equilibrium point.
Vibration hazards are classified as follows (art. 199 of Legislative Decree 81/08):
- Hand-arm vibration: mechanical vibrations that, when transmitted to the hand-arm, could have a negative effect on health, specifically causing disorders in the blood vessels, bones and joints, nerves and muscles;
- Whole-body vibration: vibrations that could have a negative effect on health, especially lower-back pain and spinal injury.
Daily exposure (art. 200 of Legislative Decree 81/08):
- Average frequency-weighted acceleration referred to an eight-hour working day (m/s2);
EXPOSURE ACTION AND LIMIT VALUES (art. 201 of Legislative Decree 81/08):
- Hand-arm vibration: the daily exposure limit value standardised to an eight-hour reference period is 5 m/s2; over shorter periods it is 20 m/s2;
- Hand-arm vibration: the daily exposure action value standardised to an eight-hour reference period, above which action must be taken, is 2.5 m/s2;
- Whole-body vibration: the daily exposure limit value standardised to an eight-hour reference period is 1 m/s2; over shorter periods it is 1.5 m/s2;
- Whole-body vibration: the daily exposure action value standardised to an eight-hour reference period, above which action must be taken, is 0.5 m/s2.
WHAT TO DO when you intend to buy new equipment that emits vibrations
If you intend to purchase equipment that could be a source of vibration, you must notify the Health and Safety Services Unit (PREP), attaching the technical data sheet of the equipment and stating the name of the laboratory where the equipment will be used. The Health and Safety Services Unit will assess the risk directly using the appropriate instrument and, where applicable:
- consider alternative methods of work;
- choose alternative equipment or provide operators with PPE such as vibration-damping gloves, chairs, handles, etc.;
- train and inform users on the specific risk.