Vibration

18 February 2025

Hand-arm and whole-body vibration from powered equipment can cause painful conditions affecting nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and joints. You may be at risk if you regularly use hand-guided or hand-held powered machinery.

Two road construction workers using hand held vibrating equipment

Image designed by Freepik.

Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is a serious condition that can cause permanent damage, impacting people's ability to perform fine or detailed tasks. Cold temperatures can trigger painful finger attacks. While preventable, once HAVS develops, the damage is irreversible.

Understanding workplace vibration

Vibration affects people in two primary ways:

Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV): Caused by using handheld power tools (drills, grinders, lawnmowers, etc) or holding materials being processed by vibrating machinery. Occasional exposure is unlikely to cause ill health but regular exposure can lead to serious health problems. HAV can cause HAVS, carpal tunnel syndrome and vibration white finger.
Whole-Body Vibration (WBV): Occurs when vibrations are transmitted through a seat or platform, often in vehicles or heavy machinery like forklifts. Symptoms, which vary based on exposure intensity, duration, and frequency, can include musculoskeletal issues, neurological symptoms (tingling/numbness, loss of fine motor control, balance/co-ordination problems), circulatory/vascular problems, and gastrointestinal issues.

Vibration White Finger

This condition, caused by HAV, affects the blood supply to the fingers and hands. Symptoms can include tingling and numbness in the fingers, not being able to feel things properly, loss of strength in the hands, and fingers turning white, then red and painful on recovery.

The picture illustrates how pallor develops irregularly in the fingers.

The condition is caused by severe vibration. Picture: Wikipedia

For some people, the symptoms may appear after a few months of exposure but for others they may take a few years. Symptoms are likely to get worse with continued exposure to vibration and may become permanent.

Risk assessment and control measures

A risk assessment should be completed if using tools or equipment that exposes people to vibration. The assessment should:

Identify where there might be a risk from vibration and who is likely to be affected.
Determine equipment usage time (vibration exposure duration). This means time spent holding the equipment whilst it is vibrating.
Understand the amount of vibration that is emitted from that piece of equipment. This information can be provided by the supplier of the equipment.
Identify whether vibration control measures are needed and if so where and what kind.
Identify employees needing health surveillance.

Action must be taken if hand-arm vibration exposure reaches the Exposure Action Value (EAV) and activity must stop at the Exposure Limit Value (ELV).

EAV is a daily exposure of 2.5 m/s² time-weighted average over 8 hours.
ELV is a daily exposure of 5 m/s² time-weighted average over 8 hours

The HSE's vibration calculator can assist with exposure calculations.

Effective control measures include:

Using alternative, lower-vibration work methods.
Purchasing vibration-reduced tools.
Maintaining equipment per manufacturer instructions.
Minimising vibration exposure through work schedules and job rotations.
Providing HAV and WBV training, including symptom awareness.
Encouraging people to report early symptoms.
Keeping hands warm and dry.

Health surveillance

Employees regularly exposed near or above the EAV, or those with pre-existing conditions (e.g. Raynaud's disease) or vibration sensitivity, require health surveillance.

Where can I get further information

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