Official Journal of the European Communities

The measures necessary for the implementation of this

2.

For whole-body vibration:

Directive should be adopted in accordance with Council

(a) the daily exposure limit value standardised to an eight-hour

Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the

reference period shall be 1,15 m/s2 or, at the choice of the

procedures for the exercise of implementing powers

Member State concerned, a vibration dose value of 21 m/

conferred on the Commission (1),

s1,75;

(b) the daily exposure action value standardised to an eight-

hour reference period shall be 0,5 m/s2 or, at the choice of

the Member State concerned, a vibration dose value of

9,1 m/s1,75.

Workers' exposure to whole-body vibration shall be assessed or

measured on the basis of the provisions of Point 1 of Part B of

the Annex.

Article 1

1.

This Directive, which is the 16th individual Directive

within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC,

lays down minimum requirements for the protection of

Article 4

workers from risks to their health and safety arising or likely to

arise from exposure to mechanical vibration.

2.

The requirements of this Directive shall apply to activities

in which workers are or are likely to be exposed to risks from

1.  In carrying out the obligations laid down in Article 6(3)

mechanical vibration during their work.

and Article 9(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC, the employer shall

assess and, if necessary, measure the levels of mechanical vibra-

3.

Directive 89/391/EEC shall apply fully to the whole area

tion to which workers are exposed. Measurement shall be

referred to in paragraph 1, without prejudice to more stringent

carried out in accordance with Point 2 of Part A or Point 2 of

and/or more specific provisions contained in this Directive.

Part B of the Annex to this Directive, as appropriate.

2.  The level of exposure to mechanical vibration may be

Article 2

assessed by means of observation of specific working practices

and reference to relevant information on the probable magni-

tude of the vibration corresponding to the equipment or the

types of equipment used in the particular conditions of use,

For the purposes of this Directive, the following terms shall

including such information provided by the manufacturer of

the equipment. That operation shall be distinguished from

measurement, which requires the use of specific apparatus and

(a) `hand-arm vibration': the mechanical vibration that, when

appropriate methodology.

transmitted to the human hand-arm system, entails risks to

the health and safety of workers, in particular vascular,

bone or joint, neurological or muscular disorders;

3.  The assessment and measurement referred to in paragraph

1 shall be planned and carried out by competent services at

(b) `whole-body vibration': the mechanical vibration that, when

suitable intervals, taking particular account of the provisions of

transmitted to the whole body, entails risks to the health

Article 7 of Directive 89/391/EEC concerning the necessary

and safety of workers, in particular lower-back morbidity

competent services or persons. The data obtained from the

and trauma of the spine.

assessment and/or measurement of the level of exposure to

mechanical vibration shall be preserved in a suitable form so as

to permit consultation at a later stage.

Article 3

4.  Pursuant to Article 6(3) of Directive 89/391/EEC, the

employer shall give particular attention, when carrying out the

risk assessment, to the following:

1.

For hand-arm vibration:

(a) the level, type and duration of exposure, including any

(a) the daily exposure limit value standardised to an eight-hour

exposure to intermittent vibration or repeated shocks;

reference period shall be 5 m/s2;

(b) the exposure limit values and the exposure action values

(b) the daily exposure action value standardised to an eight-

laid down in Article 3 of this Directive;

hour reference period shall be 2,5 m/s2.

(c) any effects concerning the health and safety of workers at

Workers' exposure to hand-arm vibration shall be assessed or

particularly sensitive risk;

measured on the basis of the provisions of Point 1 of Part A of

the Annex.

(d) any indirect effects on worker safety resulting from interac-

tions between mechanical vibration and the workplace or

other work equipment;