Management of HAVS A Contractors View Veronica Robins

Management of HAVS – A Contractors View Veronica Robins, Health & Wellbeing Manager

Change in approach § Two cases of HAVS reported to HSE under RIDDOR § Summer 2015 § HSE investigation

Existing procedures § Health surveillance § HAVS RAs § Trigger times logged for all § Regular TBTs

Inspector’s comments HAVS RAs § Existing – only indicated max trigger times for tools § Estimating in advance (Proactive monitoring) total points for task before work commences § Include K Factor data

Inspector’s comments § Trigger times – why? § NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT for continual monitoring & recording of trigger times § ‘Reactive’ monitoring

HSE inspectors commonly come across companies that are engaged in routine continual monitoring or logging of workers’ hand-arm vibration exposure (eg using log books, in-line electrical or pneumatic timers or more sophisticated electronic timers and wearable timers). The following Q&A for employers addresses why HSE advises that such monitoring is unlikely to be necessary. 6

1) Must I continually monitor workers’ exposure to vibration? No. There is no legal requirement for continual monitoring and recording of vibration exposure. To do so is probably not a good use of your or your employees’ time, unless there are very specific circumstances. 7

8 Procedural changes § Proactive monitoring • Task RA o Eliminate risk or reduce to ‘As Low As Reasonably Practicable’ • HAVS RA o Calculate in advance o K factor

9 HAVS – Risk Assessment

1 0 K Factor – what is it? • Vibration Magnitude: Suppliers should report two values, a and K o a = measured level (under factory conditions) o K = the uncertainty (allows for error in measurement or variation during production) • No K factor information available? o Use 1. 5 m/s 2

HAVS – K Factor

HAVS – K Factor

HAVS – K Factor http: //www. hae. org. uk/Havs-data-hae/

HAVS – K Factor

1 5 Monitoring of Trigger Times No longer a mandatory requirement for all However required: • to assist with HAVS RA (initial checks to ensure estimates are accurate) • when workers on restricted points for medical reasons.

Summary 1. Focus on proactive monitoring − Eliminating or reducing risk to ALARP in task RA − Conduct HAVS RA in addition to task RA with estimated exposure time − Use K Factor for Vibration Magnitude 2. Continual monitoring of trigger times no longer mandatory for all – decided on site by site basis

Summary 3. Discuss HAVS at Pre-start meetings with contractors. Monitor methodology, selection, use & maintenance of tools, training, health surveillance etc 4. Health surveillance & records kept 5. Information, instruction & training

Questions