Practical methodology for estimating occupational exposure to hand-arm vibrations according to CEN/TR 15350:2013

Publication date: March 2018
Source:Safety Science, Volume 103
Author(s): F. Brocal, C. González, M.A. Sebastián
Directive 2002/44/EC, regarding exposure of workers to vibrations, distinguishes between vibrations transmitted to the hand-arm system (HAV) and vibrations transmitted to the whole body (WBV). In both cases, the employer must perform an assessment of the level of exposure to mechanical vibration. To do so, the employer may observe the specific working methods and refer to the information provided by the manufacturer. This operation is not the same as measuring, which requires the use of specific equipment, along with a suitable methodology.When using the information provided by the manufacturer with the aim of approximately estimating the level of risk of the worker's exposure to HAV, the CEN/TR 15350:2013 Technical Report includes the guidelines to do so, according to the requirements laid down by Directive 2002/44/EC.Nevertheless, the procedure set out in CEN/TR 15350:2013 considers problems of practical application that may hinder decision-making in terms of the risk assessment process. These problems are mainly linked to the following factors: limitations and conditions for application of the procedure; determining the correction factor; determining the undeclared uncertainty; and determining the declared vibration emission value.In order to resolve these problems, this paper seeks to develop a methodology that facilitates practical application of the procedure to estimate the HAV exposure according to CEN/TR 15350:2013 using the information provided in the instruction manuals from the tool manufacturers.Thus, the procedure set out in Annex B to CEN/TR 15350:2013, and other related standards, has been analysed. The results obtained were included in the procedure of said Annex B, thus shaping the methodology sought after in this paper. This methodology has been applied to a practical example based on actual data.All of this shows that although the methodology developed facilitates the practical application of the procedure in Annex B to CEN/TR 15350:2013, its implementation requires very thorough studies, the results of which cannot be considered anything more than an estimation with a high degree of uncertainty.



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