Management of Hand-arm Vibration (HAV)

Researchers: Professor David J. Edwards, Faculty Head of Research and Director of CBIE and Professor of Industrial Innovation Professor Gary D. Holt, Professor of Innovation in Machinery Management, CBIE Summary Overview Professors David Edwards and Gary Holt, both of the Universitys Centre for Business innovation and Enterprise (CBIE), Birmingham City Business School, have for many years been at the vanguard of world-leading research into Hand-arm Vibration (HAV) and its control and management at the workplace. HAV is a form of vibration experienced by workers who use hand-operated mechanical tools. Repeated or continuous exposure to it, can cause serious and sometimes irreversible health problems. Professors Edwards and Holt have been instrumental in bringing about more accurate measurement of exposure to HAV by workers and resultantly, thereby improved the ability to better risk-assess and manage this occupational health hazard within all kinds of business that use hand operated machinery; throughout industry, in this country and internationally. Their work led to the establishment of the world-leading Hand-arm Vibration Test Centre [ref 1]. It also underpinned the development of the worlds largest and freely accessible web-based HAV database known as the HAVTec database [ref 2] and it has informed the academic community through a host of peer-reviewed academic publications [see samples at foot of this article]. Their published industry guidance on HAV is used by many businesses to help inform HAV management, especially within the plant and equipment sector [ref 3]. The professors have worked with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on many technical expert panels and HAV initiatives, including the design and production of an operative training DVD on the subject. They have conducted research in collaboration with numerous blue-chip companies including Speedy Hire, A-Plant, Hilti, DeWalt, Major Contractors Group, Belle, and JCB to help them design and implement HAV risk assessment and HAV risk control management programmes. In recognition of their achievements in this field, Professor Edwards was recently made the sole Academic Representative on the HSEs prestigious Noise and Vibration Panel; while Professor Holt has reviewed HAV guidance material for the HSE on the subject. What is HAV and Why is it Important to Society? Hand-arm vibration is generated by hand held (such as a breaker or drill) or hand guided (such as a pedestrian roller or compaction plate) mechanised tools and equipment. This vibration can be exposed to the hands of workers who operate these types of machinery and continued or repeated exposure to it, can lead to a range of medical conditions many of which are irreversible if progressed to an advanced stage. Perhaps the most well-known of these is Vibration White Finger which is associated with the vascular (blood flow) system. However, there are numerous other types of medical problems that can present including those associated with the nervous; and musculoskeletal systems. Combined, these medical conditions are generally referred to as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Those with HAVS may experience pain in the hands, numbness in the fingers and episodes of finger blanching when exposed to cold weather or wet environments. Other symptoms include pain, loss of grip strength and loss of manual dexterity. Depending on the severity of HAVS, workers will normally have to change their working habits to avoid further HAV exposure, or in the extreme may have to change their job, or stop working altogether. In the most serious HAVS cases, the negative effects on an individual and their ability to earn a living can be severe. They may also have to change their hobbies

or social life as a result of impaired use of their hands and arms. Broader effects include costs to UK business through lost production and worker absenteeism; while society as a whole can incur costs from supporting ill workers and their families and the costs of on-going medical treatment. The work of professors Edwards and Holt are encouraging business and individuals that use HAV emitting tools, to work in a safer environment, while also helping avoid these personal and societal costs. More Information on the Products of this Research The Hand-arm Vibration Test Centre (HAVTec) houses the worlds most comprehensive and freely accessible database of scientifically reliable and independently derived tool vibration data. It came about directly as a result of the professors research. HAVTec is signposted on the UKs HSE website and is used for risk assessments throughout UK industry and beyond. International users include the Department of Labor in the USA; Medical Research Institutes in Canada and Italy; and state Governments in Australia. The professors also produced the HAVTec risk-assessment calculator and documentation programme (freely available from within the HAVTec database). This is a spreadsheet based tool able to quickly perform quantitative assessment of workers average daily HAV exposures, even given complex exposure situations of workers multiple tool use (of varying vibration levels) within any working day. It also provides a means of formally recording assessments to enable compliance with relevant health and safety legislation. Their industry-facing guidance document has been used for worker education within many organisations, in particular, by members of the Major Hire Companies Group who sponsored the document. Specific companies who use it include A-Plant, HSS Hire and Speedy Hire. A distance learning, self-study web-based module on Hand-arm Vibration has also been authored by the professors. Dialogue is presently under way to roll this out across a range of businesses, as a means by which workers can educate themselves on the subject, in their own time and at their own pace. Ongoing and Future Research Aspirations Present research at CBIE is looking at the effects of operator anthropometry and the way in which workers use tools, on their resulting vibration exposure levels. This is because it has been noted that the weight, height, age, posture and the way in which workers grip or apply excessive force to mechanical tools can all have a possible effect on the level of vibration transmitted into their hands and arms. The professors are also applying work sampling techniques to this subject, so that large groups of employees can be reliably yet efficiently assessed (sampled) in terms of HAV exposure, which will be of particular benefit to businesses that use a lot of mechanical tools among a large employee base, such as in the utilities sector. Further Information The team welcome enquires or comments on their work. If you would like to make contact, please do so via email in the first instance: Professor David Edwards: David.edwards@bcu.ac.uk Professor Gary Holt: Gary.holt@bcu.ac.uk References [1] The Hand-arm Vibration Test Centre. See: http://www.operc.com/havtec/ [2] The HAVTec Database of Hand-arm Vibration Emissions. Freely accessible upon registration. See: http://www.operc.com/havtec/havreg.asp [3] Edwards, D. J. and Holt, G. D. (2007). A Guide to Hand-Arm Vibration (2nd Edition). The OffHighway Plant and Equipment Research Centre, ISBN: 978-0-947974-54-1. See:

http://www.operc.com/bs_itemdetails.asp?type=pub&prod=37 Sample Academic Publications Edwards, D. J. and Holt, G. D. (2010). Analysis of Hand-Arm Vibration Risk to Highway Utilities Maintenance and Repair Operatives. Automation in Construction. Vol.19, No.5, pp580-587. ISSN: 0926-5805 (print). Amsterdam: Elsevier. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2010.02.002 Edwards, D. J. and Holt, G. D. (2010). Cost Effective Risk Assessment of Hand-Arm Vibration Exposure. The Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction. Vol. 15, No. 2, pp158175. Emerald Group Publishing. ISSN: 1366-4387 (print). http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13664381011063449 Edwards, D. J. and Holt, G. D. (2007). Construction Hand Tools: Vibration Emissions from Alternative Inserts. Building Research and Information The International Journal of Research, Development and Demonstration. Vol. 35, No. 3, pp329-342. London: Routledge. ISSN: 0961-3218 (print). http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09613210601002772 Edwards, D. J. and Holt, G. D. (2007) Perceptions of Workplace Vibration Hazards Among a Small Sample of UK Construction Professionals. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management. Vol. 14, No. 3, pp261-276. Emerald. ISSN: 0969 9988 (print). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09699980710744908 Edwards D. J. and Holt, G. D. (2006). Hand-Arm Vibration Exposure from Construction Tools: Results of a Field Study. Construction Management and Economics. (February) Vol. 24, No. 2, pp 209-217. London: Routledge. ISSN: 0144-6193 (print). http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01446190500310643 Edwards, D. J. and Holt, G. D. (2006). Hand-Arm Vibration Controls: A Perspective Based On Performance and Cost Dimensions. Journal of Financial Management of Property and Construction. Vol. 11, No. 1, pp 147-158. (March). ISSN: 1366 4387 (print). http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13664380680001077