Risk assessment: Vibration measurements at the workplace

In order to obtain reliable results from vibration measurements, they must be carried out by suitably qualified personnel. The TRLV explains aspects that are important for commissioning an expert vibration measurement. As part of a work analysis, it is first determined which tasks and activities the employees carry out and whether there are any possible effects of vibrations on the body.

The vibrations are determined at the point where they enter the body, e.g. the palms of the hands or the soles of the shoes. Profiles of the affected employees and their activities are then created to assess the risk of vibration. The aim is to find out how long the employees are exposed to vibration and how high the vibration exposure is in the different areas of use.

Both whole-body vibration (WBV), which occurs when sitting, for example, and hand-arm vibration (HAV) when using equipment such as drills, pneumatic hammers, etc. are measured. Whole-body vibration is measured using a measuring disk on a standing or seated person. Hand-arm vibration measurements are carried out, for example, on the handles of a machine.

A total vibration exposure value is determined over the course of a working day (eight hours). If the action and exposure limit values specified in the LärmVibrationsArbSchV are exceeded, a corresponding vibration reduction programme must be developed to minimize the risk to employees. The recommendations of the TRLV support the measuring personnel in the assessment of vibration hazards and in deriving the necessary preventive measures.

The protective measures to be taken depend on the intensity of the measured vibration exposure. If the exposure limit values are reached or exceeded, suitable measures must be taken to remedy the situation - for example

• improving the vibration damping of seats in vehicles (suspension settings etc.) or during vehicle operation itself (shock absorbers, modification of tires etc.),
• the use of damping mats,
• switching to machines with less vibration or replacing components that vibrate heavily (handles, swing seats, etc.),
• the use of personal protective equipment such as anti-vibration gloves or vibration protection shoes,
• Reducing the duration of work on vibrating machines,
• Further changes to work processes.

The first step is to inform the affected employees transparently about the dangers of vibrations in order to raise awareness of the problem. This will significantly increase the willingness to participate in the implementation of the necessary vibration reduction program. When planning, the measures that promise the greatest reduction success should be considered first. It is also important to define clear responsibilities and set realistic timetables for implementation.

A schedule and documentation of the results help to regularly and systematically check the success of the individual protective measures so that further measures can be taken if necessary. The measures implemented are checked by means of renewed vibration measurements and the expected lower vibration exposures are compared again with the action and exposure limit values.

Vibration measurement as part of the risk assessment is a continuous process in order to avoid the occurrence of new hazards, for example through modifications to the system configuration, the workplace or the work process. The vibration behavior of machines can also change over the course of the product life cycle and must be regularly reassessed.

The documentation of all potential hazards caused by vibrations to which employees are exposed during their activities provides the basis for sustainably improved and healthier working conditions.

As a DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 accredited measuring body, we can support you in the metrological determination of vibrations in the workplace and will be happy to work with you to create an overall concept tailored to your company to assess the vibration exposure of employees and possible reduction measures.