Official Journal of the European Communities

L 177/15

(f) adequate information and training to instruct workers to

(e) information provided by the manufacturers of work equip-

use work equipment correctly and safely in order to reduce

ment in accordance with the relevant Community Direc-

their exposure to mechanical vibration to a minimum;

(g) limitation of the duration and intensity of the exposure;

(f) the existence of replacement equipment designed to reduce

the levels of exposure to mechanical vibration;

(h) appropriate work schedules with adequate rest periods;

(g) the extension of exposure to whole-body vibration beyond

(i) the provision of clothing to protect exposed workers from

normal working hours under the employer's responsibility;

cold and damp.

(h) specific working conditions such as low temperatures;

3.  In any event, workers shall not be exposed above the

(i) appropriate information obtained from health surveillance,

exposure limit value.

including published information, as far as possible.

If, despite the measures taken by the employer to comply with

5.

The employer shall be in possession of an assessment of

this Directive, the exposure limit value is exceeded, the

the risk in accordance with Article 9(1)(a) of Directive 89/391/

employer shall take immediate action to reduce exposure below

EEC and shall identify which measures must be taken in accor-

the exposure limit value. He shall identify the reasons why the

dance with Articles 5 and 6 of this Directive. The risk assess-

exposure limit value has been exceeded, and shall amend the

ment shall be recorded on a suitable medium, according to

protection and prevention measures accordingly in order to

national law and practice; it may include a justification by the

prevent it being exceeded again.

employer that the nature and extent of the risks related to

mechanical vibration make a further detailed risk assessment

4.  Pursuant to Article 15 of Directive 89/391/EEC, the

unnecessary. The risk assessment shall be kept up-to-date on a

employer shall adapt the measures referred to in this Article to

regular basis, particularly if there have been significant changes

the requirements of workers at particular risk.

which could render it out-of-date, or when the results of health

surveillance show it to be necessary.

Article 6

Article 5

Without prejudice to Articles 10 and 12 of Directive 89/391/

EEC, the employer shall ensure that workers who are exposed

1.

Taking account of technical progress and of the avail-

to the risks from mechanical vibration at work and/or their

ability of measures to control the risk at source, the risks arising

representatives receive information and training relating to the

from exposure to mechanical vibration shall be eliminated at

outcome of the risk assessment provided for in Article 4(1) of

their source or reduced to a minimum.

this Directive, concerning in particular:

(a) the measures taken to implement this Directive in order to

The reduction of such risks shall be based on the general princi-

eliminate or reduce to a minimum the risks from mechan-

ples of prevention set out in Article 6(2) of Directive 89/391/

ical vibration;

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

2.

On the basis of the risk assessment referred to in Article

4, once the exposure action values laid down in Article 3(1)(b)

(c) the results of the assessment and measurement of the

and (2)(b) are exceeded, the employer shall establish and imple-

mechanical vibration carried out in accordance with Article

ment a programme of technical and/or organisational measures

4 of this Directive and the potential injury arising from the

intended to reduce to a minimum exposure to mechanical

work equipment in use;

vibration and the attendant risks, taking into account in parti-

(d) why and how to detect and report signs of injury;

(a) other working methods that require less exposure to

(e) the circumstances in which workers are entitled to health

mechanical vibration;

(b) the choice of appropriate work equipment of appropriate

(f) safe working practices to minimise exposure to mechanical

ergonomic design and, taking account of the work to be

done, producing the least possible vibration;

(c) the provision of auxiliary equipment that reduces the risk

of injuries caused by vibration, such as seats that effectively

Article 7

reduce whole-body vibration and handles which reduce the

vibration transmitted to the hand-arm system;

(d) appropriate maintenance programmes for work equipment,

the workplace and workplace systems;

Consultation and participation of workers and/or of their repre-

sentatives shall take place in accordance with Article 11 of

Directive 89/391/EEC on the matters covered by this Directive.

(e) the design and layout of workplaces and work stations;