Myth Management
The depressing evidence is that many HAV assessments are seriously flawed and that industry is storing up future problems despite the best of intentions. There is a minefield of opportunities for vibration risk management mistakes based on mis-information and myth. The 3 most common areas for errors are:-
Hand-Arm Vibration Risk Assessment Inaccuracy
Incorrect transducer mounting and other technical mistakes often lead to under-estimates of vibration risk by factors of x5 to x20. Note: significant discrepancies in the accuracy of hand-arm vibration risk assessments can lead to enforcement action by HSE to remedy the situation.
Manufacturers’ Hand-Arm Vibration Data
Manufacturers’ data (to BS EN ISO 8662) usually bears no relationship to real use exposure levels and cannot be used for any form of vibration risk assessment. Using lab data for risk calculation could cause you to underestimate the safe working time for a tool by up to x40.
Hand-Arm Vibration and PPE
There is no generally effective PPE for HAV, despite claims by some AV glove suppliers. In fact, it is sometimes likely that so called "AV" gloves may actually increase the risk due to the effect on ergonomics and the increased grip-strength required.
Hand-Arm and Whole Body Vibration Services
HAV-Base Hand-Arm Vibration Database - Best Practice in Vibration Risk Assessment
...never measure vibration again - virtual assessment from our vibration database 
Our Hand-Arm Vibration Database contains accurate field data for most tools and activities. The informationcan be used to reduce the time, costs and resources required to carry out high quality risk assessments by 80% or more. This approach is also in keeping with the current HSE recommendation to use published data wherever possible. Better to invest time and resources in risk management rather than re-inventing the wheel by repeating measurements that have already been made elsewhere.
Obtaining reliable and accurate field data requires costly instrumentation, a high level of practical training, considerable organisation (of both tools and operators) and is a very time consuming and boring pass-time. Fortunately, it is now largely unnecessary.
Purchasing or using the INVC HAV Database is by far the simplest, quickest and most cost effective approach to risk assessment and management.
NOISE-Base
NOISE-base adds occupational noise data to the HAV tool information. This simplifies noise and HAV management by keeping all the data on the same, easily accessed system. NOISE-Base also includes automated PPE selection against a comprehensive database of available hearing protection and the calculation of the "safe" working distance within which PPE is mandatory. This is best practice in risk management for mobile plant made simple.
Hiring & Buying Low Vibration Plant
This is a very important element of "best practice" in HAV risk management. As manufacturers' data cannot necessarily be used to select low vibration tools, the hand-arm vibration database provides you with the means to specify preferred tool types for any job quickly and easily.
The HAV database also provides you with the tools and information you need to implement "best practice" in risk management (statistics, combinations of tools, finger-on-trigger calculations, automatic risk recalculation to meet the forthcoming regulations ...) plus high quality, automated reporting and graphical representations of the data.
Virtual / Field Measurement HAV Assessment
Avoid the costs (time, training, instrumentation) and hassles associated with field HAV assessment by using our Virtual Assessment service based on our hand arm vibration database. We provide you with a template tool register, you fill it in, email it to out office and we can then provide you with a low cost vibration risk assessment from the HAV database. Combined with any additional field vibration measurements required, this can reduce your assessment costs by around 70-80% and the time (and hassle - getting all the plant together) involved by up to 95%.
Vibration Control Engineering Development 
Manufacturers are under increasing commercial pressure from their customers to develop low vibration plant. The innovative low vibration handle developed bythe INVC for Dennis Mowers reduced operator exposure from 6m/s2 down to 2m/s2 - without compromising mower control. This is a dramatic improvement that would allow operators to use the mower all day without reaching the 2.5m/s2 Exposure Action Value.
HAV Management Manual - free summary by email
The free email version provides a summary of both the requirements in the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations and of what constitutes “best practice” in HAV risk management. This is a free summary of the full INVC Hand-Arm Vibration Management Manual which is a multi-media document on CD-ROM.
CD-ROM HAV Manual
The full CD-ROM HAV Manual is designed as a simple, easily accessible guide to “best practice” for use throughout a company (previous versions have been issued by a number of companies as statements of policy). It incorporates all the latest HSE guidance under the Control of Vibration at Work Regualtions.
It not only provides you with a complete guide to best practice in HAV risk management, but also audio-visual material, assessment calculation procedures and search facilities. It can be installed on individual PCs or company networks to provide instant access to the information throughout the organisation. The content can also be customised to suit particular industries/companies and the material can be made available for in-house presentations.
HAV Training
Hand-Arm Vibration training options include management briefings, HAV competency (IOSH), supervisor and vibration toolbox talks. Material can also be made available for in-house use by your own trainers.
Whole Body Vibration Assessment & Control
We provide a comprehensive Whole Body Vibration (WBV) assessment service against the requirements of the regulations. This can also be extended to include design and development work plus engineering recommendations to reduce the levels of vibration. We can also provide WBV assessment and management training up to full competency level.
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Direct Links
noise control audit - digital noise assessment - noise competency training - noise training - product noise control - fan noise control - VWF (Vibration White Finger) - Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) assessment - HAV competency training - HAV database (HAV-Base) - Whole Body Vibration (WBV) measurement - environmental noise control - noise nuisance - environmental noise monitoring - production line testing (noise and vibration) - noise nuisance / annoyance recorders - frequency analyser and noise analyser software
Industrial Noise & Vibration Centre
889 Plymouth Road, Slough Berks SL1 4LP
Tel: 01753 698800 Fax: 01753 567 988
email:consult@invc.co.uk |
