Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) Training - Online Course

Description

This training will advise you of the hazards posed by Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) at work. It will also explain the precautions that you need to take to prevent permanent injury to your health through prolonged exposure to vibration.

According to the HSE, nearly 2 million people in the UK are at risk of developing Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) at work. HAVS is preventable, but once the damage is done it is permanent. Therefore, employers must ensure that their employees follow strict health and safety practices to protect themselves against the health risks associated with hand-arm vibration.

Employers have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to safeguard the health and safety of all employees. Therefore, employers need to raise awareness about the risks associated with hand-arm vibration at work, and they need to outline how these risks can be minimised.

Hand-arm vibration is any vibration transmitted from work processes into hands and arms. It can occur when operating hand-held or handguided power tools, such as concrete breakers, grinders, chainsaws, powered lawnmowers and compactors. Also, vibration can be transmitted into hands and arms by holding materials that are being processed by machines such as when buffing workpieces or off-hand grinding using a pedestal grinder.

After completing the Hand-Arm Vibration online training course you will be able to describe:

The first topic explains what hand-arm vibration is and outlines what are the various sources of hand-arm vibration. The topic also identifies when HAV can be damaging to your health, outlines the symptoms of hand-arm vibration syndrome and explains how it can affect your health in the long term. This topic also looks at Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and outlines the incidence of HAVS and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in the UK over the past decade.

The second topic identifies the factors that increase your risk of developing Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome and other health issues related to vibration. Also, the topic outlines the industries where the risk of developing vibration-induced health issues is highest and the equipment that can cause ill health from vibration. Finally, the topic will outline the factors that indicate whether you are at risk of developing Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome.

The third topic provides an overview of important legislation that aims to protect workers from vibration-related injury and ill health. This topic also outlines why it is important to assess the risk of injury from vibratory tools in the workplace and explains how vibration exposure is calculated.

The final topic indicates the actions that employers and employees should take to reduce their exposure to hand-arm vibration and minimise the risk of developing HAVS. Also, this topic explains the purpose of risk assessment and health surveillance, and when these should be carried out.