Ready to prioritise the health and safety of your workforce?
Contact us today to schedule a workplace noise monitoring assessment for your workplace. Our team is dedicated to helping you create a safer and healthier environment for your employees.
Ready to take action on vibration risks?
Contact us today to schedule vibration testing for your workplace. Our team is dedicated to helping you create a safer and healthier environment for your employees.
Hand-arm and Whole-body Vibration Testing
Regular exposure to vibration at work - whether through handheld tools or machinery - can lead to permanent injury and serious long-term health problems. The danger is often invisible: early signs can be easy to ignore until irreversible damage has occurred.
At Workplace Scientifics, we provide professional vibration testing services to help employers assess and manage these risks. We’ll measure the levels of vibration your employees are exposed to and provide clear advice on what steps to take next to help you stay compliant and protect your team.
What Is Hand-Arm & Whole-Body Vibration?
Hand-arm vibration (HAV) comes from operating power tools such as grinders, sanders, drills, saws, impact wrenches, or jackhammers. Prolonged exposure can lead to Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) - a serious condition affecting blood circulation, nerves, and muscles - as well as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Whole-body vibration (WBV) comes from operating industrial vehicles or machinery, such as forklifts, tractors, construction equipment, and plant vehicles. Long-term exposure can lead to back pain, spinal injuries, and other musculoskeletal disorders. Some workers may also experience effects on circulation, digestion, and overall fatigue when exposed to whole-body vibration over long periods.
Why Do You Need Vibration Testing?
A vibration assessment involves measuring and evaluating the level of vibration employees are exposed to during typical work activities. It helps identify whether those exposure levels are high enough to put your team at risk of developing long-term health problems – like Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), carpal tunnel syndrome, or back injuries linked to whole-body vibration.
If your team regularly uses vibrating tools or machinery, testing gives you a clear picture of what’s happening in practice. It helps you decide what action to take, whether that’s changing equipment, adjusting work patterns, or putting better controls in place.
Vibration testing also shows you’re meeting your legal responsibilities under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, which set action and limit values for daily vibration exposure. It’s a key part of protecting your employees and making sure their working environment is safe and well managed.
How Often Should Vibration Testing Be Done?
According to HSE guidance, your vibration risk assessment should be reviewed at least every two years – even if nothing at your site has changed. This helps ensure that your control measures are still effective and that employees aren’t being exposed to excessive levels of vibration over time.
However, you may need to review it sooner if there’s been a significant change in how your team works. This includes introducing new tools or equipment, modifying existing machinery, changing shift patterns, or if health surveillance suggests early signs of vibration-related illness such as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
Regular vibration testing helps you keep risks under control, meet your legal duties, and protect your team from long-term harm.
Why Should You Trust Us with Your Vibration Testing?
We take the time to understand how your team works – what equipment they use, how long they use it for, and what that means for their health over time. Whether it’s vibrating hand tools or plant machinery, we look at how vibration actually affects your team during their day-to-day work.
Our advice is practical and specific to your site, we’ll make sure you understand the risks and what can be done to keep your people safe.
We’re not here to do a quick measurement and leave. We’re here to support you with clear, honest guidance that helps you take care of your team and stay compliant long term.
