Vibration Testing
When you’re thinking about workplace risks, it’s often contaminants and noise that come to mind, but in many environments, vibration has a very real impact on worker health.
Whether it’s powered tools transmitting vibration into the hands and arms, or heavy machinery affecting the whole body, repeated vibration exposure has been shown to lead to long-term issues if not properly managed.
At Air Matters, we offer vibration testing to clarify the risks your team is being exposed to. We collect data, detail how those levels compare to recommended limits, and provide recommendations on whether controls could be introduced or refined to better manage that risk.
Sometimes clients come to us because they have a specific health concern. Other times, vibration assessments come up as part of a wider occupational hygiene assessment, or a client wants our expertise to identify potential exposure risks. Regardless of how we’re brought in, the goal is always the same, to give you clear, evidence-based recommendations for keeping your staff safe.
Different types of vibration monitoring
There are two main types of vibration exposure we assess, and both types are influenced by a combination of the equipment itself, length and frequency of exposure, processes and even operator technique. As part of our assessment, we take all of these factors into consideration in order to recommend the most effective exposure controls.
Hand-arm vibration monitoring
Hand-arm vibration usually comes from using powered tools like jackhammers, grinders, drills, and trimmers. Repeated exposure can lead to conditions such as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), particularly if those tools are being used often or for long periods.
Whole-body vibration monitoring
Whole-body vibration usually travels through the seat or floor when workers are operating large machinery. Some of the worst culprits are mobile plant and equipment used in waste management, construction, ports, transport, agriculture, forestry, mining and quarrying.
How we assess vibration risk
Assessing vibration exposure starts with us understanding how your team are carrying the work out. We’ll look at the tasks being performed, the equipment involved, and where exposure is most likely to occur. From there, we use sensors to measure vibration levels during normal operations, whether that’s a handheld tool or a machine being operated over the course of a shift.
The sensors are designed to be minimally disruptive. For hand-arm vibration, sensors are typically placed on the hands. For whole-body vibration, measurements are collected using a vibration pad sensor deployed on the seat or standing surface.
Once we’ve collected the data, we review the measurements alongside our observations about the context behind them, before providing you with a full assessment of risk. That might be confirming that your current controls are working, or it could be suggesting supplemental exposure controls following the control hierarchy of substitution, isolation, engineering and administration controls.
Industries we work with
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Agriculture and forestry
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Waste management and recycling
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Manufacturing and processing environments
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Construction and civil works
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Mining and quarrying
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Ports and logistic depots
Frequently asked questions
When should vibration testing be carried out?
We recommend that you book in for a vibration assessment as soon as you suspect that there’s a risk to your staff’s health. Whether those concerns have been raised internally or as part of a wider occupational hygiene assessment, acting fast reduces the long-term impact.
What do we receive at the end of testing?
Our team will provide you with a report that documents the nature of worker interactions with vibrations, outlines the data we’ve collected, our interpretations of that data, and our recommendations to minimise worker vibration exposure where required.
Is vibration testing a legal requirement?
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, businesses are required to manage health and safety risks and provide a duty of care to their team. If you do not understand the level of vibration exposure risk for your workforce, vibration exposure assessments will help advise you of the level of risk and, if appropriate, the controls needed to reduce exposure to as low as reasonably practicable. With more research coming to light about the severe health impacts of long-term exposure to vibration, this is a task you don’t want to ignore.
Can vibration testing be part of a wider assessment?
Absolutely, we often carry out vibration monitoring alongside our other occupational hygiene services. There are often cost savings associated with assessing the health risk of one or all of the health hazards identified for your operation. Get in touch to discuss your requirements.