There is a link on the following page to the entire 124 page document.
http://osha.europa.eu/en/news/workplace_exposure_vibration_europe_expert_review_01.14012009
One in three European workers is exposed to vibration at work and this risk is becoming more and more important. This report gives an overview of the challenges facing the occupational safety and health community as regards management of occupational vibration risks.
The report shows how the EU Vibration Directive has been implemented and how workers’ exposure to risk in this field has changed. The report studies the situation in Belgium, Germany, Spain, Finland, France and Poland and is also based on research covering all Member States.
Jukka Takala, Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work said: “This report reminds everyone that vibration represents serious risks to workers across Europe. The Directive has introduced minimum protection requirements for workers; however, more risk assessment and evaluation are needed before practical strategies to reduce vibration risks can be implemented.”
Drivers of mobile machines, operators of hand-tools and people working near stationary machines are the three main types of employees exposed to vibration. Male workers are at particular risk. Whole-body vibration from mobile machines and hand-arm vibration from hand-tools are two particularly common types of vibration.
Employers are required to assess vibration levels. However, few do so and many do not evaluate the risks posed to workers by exposing them to vibration. Vibration-reduced machines and equipment have been seen as a luxury in the past. However, this situation is now changing because the Vibration Directive makes vibration reduction compulsory.
http://osha.europa.eu/en/news/workplace_exposure_vibration_europe_expert_review_01.14012009
One in three European workers is exposed to vibration at work and this risk is becoming more and more important. This report gives an overview of the challenges facing the occupational safety and health community as regards management of occupational vibration risks.
The report shows how the EU Vibration Directive has been implemented and how workers’ exposure to risk in this field has changed. The report studies the situation in Belgium, Germany, Spain, Finland, France and Poland and is also based on research covering all Member States.
Jukka Takala, Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work said: “This report reminds everyone that vibration represents serious risks to workers across Europe. The Directive has introduced minimum protection requirements for workers; however, more risk assessment and evaluation are needed before practical strategies to reduce vibration risks can be implemented.”
Drivers of mobile machines, operators of hand-tools and people working near stationary machines are the three main types of employees exposed to vibration. Male workers are at particular risk. Whole-body vibration from mobile machines and hand-arm vibration from hand-tools are two particularly common types of vibration.
Employers are required to assess vibration levels. However, few do so and many do not evaluate the risks posed to workers by exposing them to vibration. Vibration-reduced machines and equipment have been seen as a luxury in the past. However, this situation is now changing because the Vibration Directive makes vibration reduction compulsory.
