Control hand-arm vibration (HAV) by reducing vibrating work first, then choosing and maintaining low-vibration equipment, limiting actual trigger time, and checking workers’ health. In the UK, the exposure action value is 2.5 m/s² A(8); at or above it, employers must introduce technical and organisational measures. The exposure limit value is 5.0 m/s² A(8) and must not be exceeded. Neither value is a daily allowance: exposure must be reduced to the lowest level reasonably practicable.
This guide is based on UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance and the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. Other countries can use different thresholds and duties, so confirm the rules that apply at your site.
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What the UK limits mean on a construction site
A(8) is the vibration exposure normalised to an eight-hour reference day. It combines the vibration magnitude of the equipment with the time the operator’s hands are actually on the vibrating control. A powerful tool used briefly can produce less exposure than a lower-vibration tool used continuously.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →| Level | UK requirement | What the employer must do |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 m/s² A(8) (exposure action value) | Action is required when exposure reaches or exceeds this level. | Introduce technical and organisational measures to reduce exposure, provide information and training, and arrange health surveillance where required. |
| 5.0 m/s² A(8) (exposure limit value) | Exposure must not exceed this level. | Plan and supervise work so the limit is not exceeded. Treat the limit as a legal maximum, never as a production target. |
HSE states that “the exposure action value of 2.5 m/s² A(8) [is] at which level employers should introduce technical and organisational measures to reduce exposure.” HSE also says exposure must be reduced to the lowest level reasonably practicable under Regulation 6(2), even when a calculated value is below the limit.
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How vibration exposure is created
Magnitude and trigger time work together
For every task, record the tool’s vibration magnitude in metres per second squared (m/s²) and the actual trigger time—the minutes when the operator is pressing the trigger or otherwise holding the vibrating control. Do not count the whole shift, time spent carrying the tool, or breaks as trigger time. Record each tool, accessory, material, operator and task separately because real-use vibration changes with all of them.
Use screening times only as warnings
HSE’s rough medium-risk guide is more than about 15 minutes per day for hammer-action tools or more than about one hour per day for some rotary tools. Its rough high-risk guide is more than about one hour per day for hammer tools or four hours per day for rotary tools. These are screening guides, not safe entitlements. A tool with a different emission value, a difficult material, a worn accessory or a forceful technique can reach the action value much sooner.
Use a task-based exposure assessment rather than telling a worker that a particular number of minutes is always safe. If several tools are used in one shift, combine the exposure from all tasks; do not assess each tool in isolation.
Typical vibration values and how to compare tools
HSE’s current guidance gives these typical initial values. They are starting points for assessment, not guarantees for a particular make, model or job.
| Tool and use | Typical initial vibration value | Why the site value can differ |
|---|---|---|
| Standard-bit drill | 5 m/s² | Bit type, drilling direction, material, pressure and tool condition affect the result. |
| 100–180 mm angle grinder | 7 m/s² | Wheel type, disc condition, contact pressure, guarding and the operation being performed change vibration. |
| Breaker | 14 m/s² | Breaker size, point or chisel, concrete or masonry, operator force and worn parts can substantially change exposure. |
Manufacturer or supplier emission data is useful only when it represents the way the tool will actually be used. HSE warns that some declared data can substantially underestimate workplace levels. Compare tools on more than a catalogue vibration number:
- real-use vibration magnitude and the trigger time the task requires;
- whether the tool is powerful and efficient enough for the material;
- vibration-isolating handles, suspension, counterbalancing or remote operation;
- the correct accessory and its condition;
- ergonomics, posture and the grip force needed to control it;
- maintenance, inspection and service requirements; and
- the quality of the supplier’s operating instructions, emission data and training.
An underpowered tool may have a lower stated value but take much longer, increasing total exposure. Choose the lowest-vibration tool that can complete the task efficiently and safely.
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A practical control sequence
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Assess every vibrating task
Make an inventory of drills, grinders, breakers and other vibrating equipment. For each entry, record the make and model, declared vibration emission, accessory, material, operator, task and measured or estimated trigger time. Note the operating technique, force, posture and environmental conditions. Use supplier data only when the test conditions resemble your work; where uncertainty is significant, obtain competent measurement or a better workplace estimate.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Ask workers about tingling, numbness, loss of dexterity, reduced grip or fingers changing colour in the cold. Record symptoms promptly and identify anyone who may need health surveillance. Reassess when a tool, accessory, material, operator, production rate or schedule changes.
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Eliminate or substitute vibrating work
Redesign the job before selecting hand-held equipment. Prefabrication can remove drilling or cutting on site. A block splitter can replace a cut-off saw for suitable masonry. Bursting or crushing can replace pneumatic drilling. A breaker attachment on an excavator can replace a hand-held breaker where access and ground conditions permit.
For suitable brickwork, HSE gives the example of a rotary diamond hole cutter instead of a tungsten-tipped hammer-action bit. Confirm that the alternative is suitable for the material, dust controls, accuracy and fire or structural requirements; an unsuitable substitute can increase time and create other hazards.
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Choose suitable low-vibration equipment
Obtain comparable emission information for the intended accessory, material and operating mode. Select vibration-isolating handles, suspended or counterbalanced grinders, jigs, clamps and drilling rigs when they reduce hand loading without creating a new risk. Check that the tool has enough power and the correct speed for the job.
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Operate correctly and maintain the equipment
Train operators in the manufacturer’s technique. Use the minimum grip force that gives safe control; squeezing harder usually transfers more vibration to the hands. Keep wrists as straight as practicable, avoid leaning body weight onto a tool unless the manufacturer instructs it, and use a support, jig or clamp when one is available.
Keep drills, chisels, cutting discs and grinding wheels sharp, correctly fitted and appropriate for the material. Blunt, damaged or unsuitable consumables increase vibration and extend trigger time. Inspect for loose or worn parts, damaged handles, deteriorated mounts and abnormal noise. Service the tool at the manufacturer’s intervals and remove defective equipment from use until repaired.
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Organise work to reduce individual exposure
Set a trigger-time limit for each task from the exposure assessment. Break long operations into shorter periods, rotate workers only when the replacement task has materially lower HAV exposure, and schedule non-vibrating activities between periods of tool use. Rotation is not effective if every worker performs the same high-vibration task for the same total time.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Supervisors should record actual trigger time, not merely attendance at a work area. Review the plan when productivity pressure, weather, access or a change in material causes the tool to be used harder or for longer. Several short periods generally reduce individual exposure compared with one continuous period, but the combined daily exposure still has to be assessed.
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Keep hands warm and dry
Cold causes blood vessels to constrict and can worsen discomfort and circulation problems. Provide warm, dry clothing, sheltered rest areas and suitable gloves for the conditions. HSE’s instruction is explicit: “Gloves can be used to keep hands warm, but should not be relied upon to provide protection from vibration.” Warmth supports the other controls; it does not make a high-exposure task safe.
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Train, supervise and review
Explain the health effects of HAV, the site’s trigger-time arrangements, correct tool technique, accessory selection, inspection and reporting procedures. Supervisors should observe work, correct excessive grip or poor posture, check that controls remain in place and ensure workers do not exceed planned trigger time.
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Review the risk assessment after incidents, symptoms, equipment changes, new materials, altered shift patterns or evidence that supplier data does not match workplace conditions. Provide health surveillance when exposure is at or above the action value or when a worker is otherwise at risk.
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Controlling drills
Choose the drilling process first
Decide whether the hole can be made with a rotary process rather than hammer action. For suitable brickwork, a rotary diamond hole cutter can avoid the impacts of a tungsten-tipped hammer-action bit. Confirm the cutter’s capacity, cooling, dust extraction and structural suitability before changing methods.
Prepare the drill and workpiece
- Use the correct bit, diameter, speed and clutch setting for the material.
- Clamp or support the workpiece where possible so the operator is not fighting movement.
- Use a rig or auxiliary handle for repetitive or large-diameter work.
- Replace blunt or damaged bits; forcing a dull bit increases both vibration and drilling time.
- Keep both hands in the manufacturer’s recommended positions and use only the pressure needed to maintain progress.
Log the time the trigger is held for drilling, not the time spent marking out, changing bits or clearing debris. A standard-bit drill’s typical initial value is 5 m/s², but the actual value can be higher or lower in your configuration.
Controlling angle grinders
Use a non-grinding method when it meets the specification
Ask whether fabrication, a block splitter, a saw with lower hand-arm loading, or a different cutting process can remove the need for hand-held grinding or cutting. Consider the full risk assessment, including dust, noise, kickback, guarding and fire, rather than selecting a substitute on vibration alone.
Reduce force and vibration at the grinder
- Select the correct wheel or disc for the material and operation; never use a damaged, out-of-date or incompatible abrasive.
- Keep the guard, side handle and vibration-reducing features fitted as designed.
- Use a suspended or counterbalanced grinder, jig or clamp for repetitive bench work when practicable.
- Let the abrasive do the work. Excessive pressure increases vibration, heat and wear.
- Plan wheel changes and cleaning outside trigger time, and isolate the tool before adjustments.
HSE’s typical initial value for a 100–180 mm angle grinder is 7 m/s². Disc condition, contact pressure and the task can move the workplace exposure well away from that starting value.
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Mechanise high-impact work where possible
For demolition or concrete work, consider a breaker attachment on an excavator or another remote or mechanised method when site access, utilities, noise and structural conditions allow. Bursting or crushing can replace pneumatic drilling in suitable situations. These options remove the operator’s hands from the main vibration source, but they still require controls for struck-by hazards, flying debris, dust, noise and machine stability.
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Make hand-held breaking as short and controlled as possible
- Choose a breaker with enough capacity for the material; an underpowered machine prolongs trigger time.
- Use the correct point or chisel and keep it sharp and correctly retained.
- Position the tool so the bit stays aligned with the work; twisting or levering increases vibration and tool wear.
- Use a support, trolley or suspension system for repetitive work when compatible with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Schedule short breaking periods and record each operator’s actual trigger time.
HSE’s typical initial value for a breaker is 14 m/s², higher than the typical drill and grinder values in its guidance. Do not transfer a breaker’s planned time to another tool or assume that a short shift makes exposure acceptable.
How to plan and record trigger time
A simple log makes the assessment auditable and helps supervisors act before the action value is reached. Use one line for each tool and task rather than one total for the shift.
| Record | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Tool | Make, model and unique asset number |
| Declared vibration | Supplier or manufacturer value, test configuration and date obtained |
| Task | Material, accessory, operating mode and location |
| Operator | Name or identifier and shift |
| Trigger time | Actual minutes with the vibrating control engaged |
| Technique | Grip, posture, force, support and any unusual conditions |
| Condition | Bit, disc, chisel, mounts, handles and defects found |
| Action | Exposure estimate, controls applied and follow-up date |
Where a worker uses multiple tools, the competent person carrying out the assessment should combine their contributions using an appropriate HAV exposure method. If the result is close to a threshold, treat the uncertainty conservatively, improve controls and obtain better data rather than relying on a borderline calculation.
Health surveillance and responding to symptoms
Health surveillance is part of the control system, not a substitute for reducing exposure. Arrange it when exposure is at or above the 2.5 m/s² A(8) action value or when a worker is otherwise at risk. Follow the advice of the occupational-health professional and the arrangements required by your risk assessment.
Tell workers to report tingling, numbness, reduced touch or grip, difficulty doing fine work, or fingers becoming unusually pale or painful in the cold. A report should trigger a prompt review of the person’s tasks, trigger-time records, equipment condition and controls. Do not wait for symptoms before introducing measures where the exposure assessment already shows action is required.
Common control failures and fixes
| Failure | Why it fails | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Allowing a set number of minutes as a “safe” allowance | Exposure depends on the actual vibration magnitude and all tools used that day. | Assess each task and combine daily exposure; use screening times only to flag risk. |
| Choosing the lowest catalogue number | The number may be measured in a different configuration, and a weak tool can take longer. | Compare representative data, efficiency, accessories, ergonomics and total trigger time. |
| Relying on anti-vibration gloves | Gloves may keep hands warm but are not a substitute for engineering or scheduling controls. | Use warm, dry gloves as a supplement and control the source of vibration. |
| Rotating workers without reducing total exposure | Everyone can still receive the same high exposure. | Rotate into genuinely low- or non-vibrating tasks and verify each person’s trigger time. |
| Ignoring consumable condition | Blunt or damaged bits, chisels and wheels increase force, vibration and task duration. | Inspect, sharpen or replace consumables and remove defective tools from service. |
| Never revisiting the assessment | Materials, production rates, tools and schedules change. | Review after changes, symptoms, incidents or evidence that workplace vibration is higher than declared. |
Site implementation checklist
- Confirm that the UK action and limit values are the correct legal basis for the project.
- Inventory every hand-held vibrating tool and identify who uses it.
- Capture representative vibration data and actual trigger times.
- Design out work or substitute a rotary, prefabricated, bursting, crushing or mechanised process where suitable.
- Select an efficient low-vibration tool with the right accessory and support equipment.
- Train operators in grip, posture, pressure, inspection and reporting.
- Maintain tools and replace worn consumables before vibration or trigger time increases.
- Plan short periods, meaningful task rotation and non-vibrating recovery work.
- Provide warm, dry conditions; never present gloves as vibration protection.
- Arrange health surveillance at or above the action value or where another risk exists.
- Supervise, record actual trigger time and review the assessment whenever conditions change.
For detailed UK application, consult the HSE guidance manual Control of Vibration at Work (L140, ISBN 9780717665655) alongside the current Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 and your competent occupational-health advice.
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