Exposure evaluation and risk assessment for hand-arm vibration

Nelson, Chris M.

Affiliations

¹Health and Safety Executive, Magdalen House, Bootle, UK, L20 3QZ

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the current internationally agreed method for evaluating personal daily exposures to hand-arm vibration as described in ISO 5349 (Parts 1 & 2). It discusses sampling strategies for vibration measurements in the workplace and the correct identification of exposure duration information; the calculation of exposure from more than one source of vibration is also described.

The role of daily exposure values as a tool for the assessment of vibration injury risk, is explored, in the context of current knowledge of the dose-effect relationships for the components of hand-arm vibration syndrome, known weaknesses of the standard exposure evaluation methods and realistic uncertainties in real exposure values.

Finally, various exposure limits and action levels, as adopted by national authorities, are described and their role in the assessment and control of risk is discussed.

Cited Works (7)

Year	Entry
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2001	Mechanical Vibration: Measurement and Evaluation of Human Exposure to Hand-Transmitted Vibration, I: General Requirements. ISO Standard ISO 5349-1. [ISO Standard thesis]. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization; 2001.
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