A busy maintenance period can change hand-arm vibration exposure even when teams return to familiar jobs. Maintenance teams may repair tools, replace equipment or fit different attachments. Employees may also use equipment for longer as production returns to normal. If those changes affect vibration magnitude or actual trigger time, an older assessment may no longer represent current exposure accurately.
Hand arm vibration testing can help employers check tool vibration where suitable data is unavailable or where workplace conditions have changed. Combined with realistic information about how long employees actually use each tool, the findings can support a more reliable exposure assessment and clearer decisions about control measures.
HAV exposure change after maintenance
Hand-arm vibration exposure depends on the vibration magnitude produced during use and the time a worker remains exposed. Regular and frequent exposure can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and carpal tunnel syndrome. HSE also notes that measured vibration can vary with operator technique, equipment condition, the material the operator processes and the measurement method.
That makes post-maintenance changes relevant. A repaired grinder may perform differently from its previous condition. A new attachment can change the way a tool operates. Employees may use breakers, impact tools or sanders for longer during catch-up work. Changes to the material or task can also affect vibration.
The review therefore needs to reflect the work employees carry out now. Previous data can still support the assessment when it remains representative of the current tool, task and working method.
When should you review a vibration risk assessment?
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to assess and control risks from vibration. HSE advises employers to review their risk assessment when workplace circumstances change and affect exposure. Employers should also review it regularly to confirm that the controls remain suitable.
A busy maintenance programme can give you a clear reason to review the assessment if it changes equipment, processes, tool use or working patterns. It does not mean every maintenance period requires new measurements.
Employers can often estimate exposure using reliable manufacturer, supplier or industry data alongside realistic trigger times. Hand arm vibration testing becomes useful when suitable data is unavailable, when equipment or working conditions have changed, or when a more detailed assessment would improve the exposure estimate.
What should a post-maintenance HAV review examine?
Start with the current job. Check the tools and attachments now in use, their condition and any changes the maintenance team made. Review realistic trigger times for each task, then consider the material, process and operator technique that may affect vibration.
The assessment should also check the controls already in place. Tool selection, maintenance arrangements, work planning and operator training can all affect exposure. If employees use several vibrating tools during one shift, the assessment needs to include the contribution from each tool when estimating total daily exposure.
The findings can then inform decisions about tool use, maintenance schedules and working practices. Where the assessment identifies employees who require ongoing health checks, Occupational Health Surveillance can form part of the wider arrangements for protecting employee health.
The assessment should also check the controls already in place. Tool selection, maintenance arrangements, work planning and operator training can all affect exposure. If employees use several vibrating tools during one shift, the assessment needs to include the contribution from each tool when estimating total daily exposure.
This approach keeps the assessment linked to actual work and prevents teams from collecting measurements that do not change the risk decision.
Hand-arm vibration action and limit values
HSE sets the daily Exposure Action Value for hand-arm vibration at 2.5 m/s² A(8). When exposure reaches or exceeds this level, employers must introduce a programme of technical and organisational controls to reduce exposure so far as reasonably practicable. HSE sets the daily Exposure Limit Value at 5.0 m/s² A(8). Employers must not allow daily exposure to exceed this level.
Daily exposure combines vibration magnitude with exposure duration, so accurate trigger time matters. Trigger time means the period when the employee actually has contact with the operating vibrating tool or process. It does not mean the full time allocated to the task or the whole shift.
What controls should follow the assessment?
The main objective is to reduce the risk from vibration. HSE advises employers to consider alternative work methods, suitable lower-vibration equipment, effective maintenance and changes that reduce exposure time. Employees also need suitable information and training on correct equipment use and ways to avoid unnecessary grip force. Further practical guidance on these measures is available in this guide to good practice for managing hand-arm vibration.
Gloves can help employees keep their hands warm and protect against other workplace hazards. Employers should not rely on anti-vibration gloves as the main control for HAV exposure because HSE states that gloves should only count as a vibration control when evidence demonstrates a reduction.
Health surveillance also forms part of HAV management. Employers must provide it for employees who remain likely to experience regular exposure above the Exposure Action Value despite controls, or who face risk for another reason. The health surveillance provider should have suitable experience in hand-arm vibration.
How can updated HAV data improve future maintenance planning?
A post-maintenance review can improve the current risk assessment and give managers better information for the next maintenance programme. Current tool data can help teams compare equipment before future purchases. Updated trigger times can support more realistic task planning. Asset registers and clear tool labels can make exposure information easier for supervisors and employees to use.
Follow-up checks can also show if changes to equipment, maintenance or working methods have reduced exposure as intended. This gives health and safety, maintenance and engineering teams a clearer basis for future tool selection and work planning.
Our hand-arm vibration assessments sit within our wider Occupational Hygiene Services, helping organisations assess HAV exposure alongside other workplace hazards and manage occupational health risks more effectively.
Plan the Next Maintenance Cycle With Better HAV Data
If a recent maintenance period changed the tools employees use or the time they spend using them, review the assessment before carrying old assumptions into the next work programme. Safety First Group can assess current tool use, measure vibration where suitable data is unavailable and provide recommendations that support your vibration control programme.
Contact us to discuss hand arm vibration testing for your site and the information your team needs for future maintenance planning.