YOU
SHOULD READ THIS LEAFLET IF YOUR BUSINESS INVOLVES
REGULAR AND FREQUENT USE OF:
▼ hand-held powered tools;
▼ hand-guided powered equipment;
▼ hand-fed powered equipment.
It will give you brief details of:
▼ what hand-arm vibration (HAV) is;
▼ the injuries it can cause;
▼ simple steps you can take to control the risk;
▼ where to get further information.
WHAT
HAV?
IS
HAV is vibration transmitted from work processes into workers' hands and arms. It can
be caused by operating hand-held power tools such as roadbreakers, hand-guided
equipment such as lawn mowers, or by holding materials being processed by machines
such as pedestal grinders.
WHEN
IS IT HAZARDOUS?
Regular and frequent exposure to high levels of vibration can lead to permanent injury.
This is most likely when contact with a vibrating tool or process is a regular part of a
person's job. Occasional exposure is unlikely to cause injury, although it should be avoided
by people with medical conditions such as Raynaud's Disease.
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