What is this document?
INDG175 is the HSE's brief guide to hand-arm vibration at work. It explains the health risks workers face when regularly using hand-held power tools, hand-guided powered equipment, or powered machines that process materials held by hand.
Regular exposure to hand-arm vibration can cause serious conditions including hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). These are painful, disabling conditions that can significantly affect workers' quality of life and ability to work.
Who needs to read this?
- Employers whose workers use vibrating tools and equipment
- Small business owners in construction, manufacturing, or maintenance
- Employees who regularly use power tools
- Worker representatives advising on vibration risks
- Health and safety managers assessing tool-related hazards
Key points covered
The guide addresses the essentials of hand-arm vibration management:
- What hand-arm vibration is and how it causes health problems
- Who is at risk from regular use of vibrating tools
- Your legal duties under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
- Assessing vibration risks in your workplace
- Reducing exposure through practical control measures
- Providing information to employees about vibration risks
- Health surveillance requirements for detecting early signs of damage
How this applies to you
Identify which workers use vibrating tools or equipment regularly. Common examples include angle grinders, hammer drills, chainsaws, strimmers, sanders, and pneumatic tools.
Assess whether exposure levels are likely to exceed the daily exposure action value. The regulations set specific limits you must work within. Consider the vibration magnitude of the tools and how long workers use them each day.
Control measures include selecting lower-vibration tools, maintaining equipment properly, limiting exposure time, and rotating workers between tasks. Provide warm, dry conditions where possible, as cold hands are more vulnerable to damage.
Set up health surveillance for workers regularly exposed to hand-arm vibration. This helps detect early symptoms before permanent damage occurs.
For guidance on whole-body vibration from driving vehicles and machinery, see the HSE vibration at work guidance. For broader information on upper limb conditions, refer to INDG171.