Putting you first at the centre of what we do. Keeping you healthy and safe at work. Supporting you when you are harmed at work. Ensuring your scheme works and is sustainable.
Preventing vibration injuries
Engineering control measures are the most effective form of risk management because once in place they operate all the time. The control of vibrations in work processes also leads to a reduction in noise emissions and therefore serves an important dual purpose.
The use of personal protective equipment is a less effective form of control and should only be used when engineering or administrative controls cannot reduce the vibration exposure to an acceptable level.
Minimising injuries
The risk of injury to workers can be prevented or minimised by:
- assessing the risks, including conducting vibration exposure surveys as appropriate, to identify risky processes and/or activities
- developing a vibration policy and vibration management program
- implementing a program for conducting regular vibration surveys and corrective actions
- implementing vibration control measures in consultation with workers
- providing management and workers with education, training and information on vibration exposure, its effects and the need for its control
- providing regular medical check ups to exposed workers.
Control measures
Control measures to minimise exposure to vibration include:
- treating the vibration source (i.e. isolate vibrating plant from its foundation through dampers and springs, redesign or modification)
- treating the vibration transmission path (i.e. isolate ducts from stationary plant, vibration dampened seating in locomotive cabins)
- treating the receiver (i.e. isolate control rooms/enclosures/locomotive cabins from vibrating plant and surfaces)
- using tools with anti-vibration handles
- maintaining properly sharpened cutting tools
- job rotation, to limit exposure to hand arm vibration exposure to no more than four hours per shift and of whole body vibration to no more than eight hours per shift
- an adequate plant and equipment maintenance program
- personal protective equipment (e.g. anti-vibration gloves)
- using minimum hand grip on tools consistent with safe work practices