Whole Body Vibration (WBV)

What is Whole Body Vibration?

There are two types of vibration which can affect the body during the course of your work. They are Hand Arm Vibration (HAVS) and Whole Body Vibration (WBV).

WBV is caused when vibration from mobile plant or equipment is transferred through the seat or feet into the body of the person operating it. This can also occur when work vehicles are driven over uneven or rough surfaces regularly.

Equipment associated with WBV includes:

tractors
shunters
ride on pallet trucks
forklift trucks
quarrying or earth-moving machinery

What are the health effects of WBV exposure?

WBV can produce a range of symptoms depending on the level and duration of exposure to vibration. Some people may feel the effects immediately, while others may develop symptoms over time following prolonged exposure.

Common symptoms include:

musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) which can include pain in the lower back, neck, shoulder or joints - it can also cause muscle stiffness or muscle fatigue
numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, or other parts of the body following exposure to vibration
problems with balance and coordination
dizziness and headaches
general fatigue due to the physical exertion of dealing with the vibrations, the stress it puts on the body, or disturbed sleep patterns due to persistent after-effects of the vibration
digestive issues including stomach upset, nausea, or loss of appetite
visual effects such as blurred vision or difficulty focusing
cognitive effects such as reduced concentration or memory problems

Risk assessment

Risk assessment for WBV does not need to be complex or onerous. Look at work tasks, talk to managers, employees and others to fully understand the extent of vibration associated with the work.

This will allow you to make a broad assessment of the risks and to introduce simple control measures to reduce them to a reasonable level.

Exposures may be high where you find one or more of the following:

machine or vehicle manufacturers warn in the machine/vehicle handbook of risks from whole-body vibration
the machines or vehicles you are using are unsuitable for the tasks for which they are being used (check the handbook or ask the supplier)
operators and drivers are using poor techniques, for example, driving too fast or operating the machinery too aggressively
employees are operating or driving, for several hours a day, any of the machines or vehicles described earlier as likely to cause high vibration exposures (though note that the list is not comprehensive)
your employees are being jolted, continuously shaken or, when going over bumps, rising visibly in the seat
vehicle roadways or work areas are potholed, cracked or covered in rubble
road-going vehicles are regularly driven off-road or over poorly paved surfaces for which they are not suitable
operators or drivers report back problems

The risk assessment can be completed without the need to estimate or measure vibration exposure.

Most employers will not need to undertake any measurements, or employ vibration specialists to help with the risk assessment, however the limits prescribed by the regulations are:

an exposure action value of 0.5 m/s² A(8) at which level employers should introduce technical and organisational measures to reduce exposure
an exposure limit value of 1.15 m/s² A(8) which should not be exceeded

How can I reduce the risk?

There are many simple steps employers can take to reduce the risk. These include:

introducing working methods which eliminate or reduce exposure, for example, minimising the transport of goods or materials or to replace manned with unmanned machines such as remotely controlled conveyors
choosing work equipment of appropriate ergonomic design, i.e. the choice of vehicle can be an important means of reducing exposure to vibration
consider the difference in vibration emissions of the vehicle itself (although this needs to be considered alongside choosing the most appropriate vehicle for the task)
visibility should be such that the machine can be operated without stretching and twisting
it should be easy to get in and out of the machine by using handholds and footholds so that the temptation to climb or jump is minimised
access to manually loaded areas should be unimpeded by the machinery structure and involve minimal lifting
if the machine cab is the sole workplace of the machine operator, including break time, it should have sufficient space and facilities for rest periods
consider the choice of seat (including suspension seats) and the choice of tyres
regular maintenance of vehicles (including their seats and suspension) and maintenance of unmade roads and ground conditions throughout sites to suit the machines that use them will greatly reduce shocks and jolts
designing the layout of workplace sites to reduce the need to transport materials, and so reduce the WBV exposure of drivers/operators
providing suitable and sufficient information and training for employees
limiting the duration and magnitude of exposure - when all reasonably practicable steps have been taken to reduce the vibration magnitude and taking account of the fact that there is no personal protective equipment available for WBV, the final resort for compliance with the exposure limit value is to limit the duration of exposure
ensuring the work schedules have adequate rest periods - a recommended precautionary measure is to take a short break between operating mobile machinery and manual handling of materials, to give tired muscles time to recover before handling heavy loads
protecting employees from cold and damp - cold exposure may accelerate the onset or worsen the severity of back pain - it is good practice to ensure that those working in the cold are provided with warm, and (if necessary) waterproof clothing
reducing exposure below the exposure limit value - you must not permit an employee to be exposed above the exposure limit value, your programme of measures must be designed to prevent this level of exposure - if you find the exposure limit value is being exceeded, you must immediately take action to reduce exposure and to identify the reason for overexposure

Health surveillance

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 requires employers to provide health surveillance where:

exposures are at or above the Exposure Action Value (EAV)
there is a risk, for example, an employee is diagnosed with WBV but is exposed below the EAV

For more information please see the following link:

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 - (legislation.gov.uk)

What is Whole Body Vibration?

What are the health effects of WBV exposure?

Risk assessment

How can I reduce the risk?

Health surveillance

Resources

Key legislation