Vibration Safety Guide – MTeevan Hire

Vibration white finger is the most common form of hand arm vibration syndrome; it is also sometimes called white finger disease or Raynauds phenomenon. The condition effects people who regularly use HIGH VIBRATION EQUIPMENT such as power tools in all industries, the longer the person is exposed the greater the risk.

With this in mind MTeevan Hire has produced the following information to assist users and employers in reducing the potential damage caused by prolonged exposure to high vibration levels.

HEALTH & SAFETY

When selecting new tools for purchase, MTeevan Hire’s policy is to favour those with reduced vibration characteristics. An explanatory leaflet outlining the hazards symptoms and control measures relating to vibration white finger is provided FREE with MTeevan Hire equipment, which produces vibration.

The following steps will help reduce the risk from vibration:

  • Wear gloves and keep warm. At present anti vibration gloves generally provide negligible attenuation of vibration.
  • Do not use excessive force on the tool, the tighter the grip the greater the vibration.
  • Avoid using blunt points, chisels & drill bits.
  • Follow safety instructions provided with equipment.

How to use this Guide:

To gain an indication of the safe working time for a power tool take the vibration value in the output table and find the corresponding value in the Vibration Safety Chart. The figure parallel to the vibration value gives the approximate maximum time of use in any eight hour working shift.

For instance; a 14” Petrol Floor Saw has a Vibration value of 7.5m/s2. In the Hand Arm Vibration Safety Chart the corresponding figure shown is 67 Mins meaning the approximate length of time an operator can use that tool in an eight hour shift is 67 minutes.

There are other factors, which may influence the effect of Vibration on the body for example stature and temperature; therefore this scale should be used for broad guidance only.

 

VIBRATION OUTPUT TABLE

SAWING/CUTTING/GRINDING


EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
6” – 9” Circular Saw
2.5
Jigsaw
3.2
Arbortech TCT Saw
6.9
Door Trimming Saw
3.4
Cut Off Saw
2.5
Mini Grinder
2.5
7” – 9” Grinder
7.5
12” Grinder
7.5
2 Stroke 12” Cutter
5.5
Metal Shears
3.2
Nibbler
2.5
Heavy Duty Nibbler
2.5
Pipe Saw 110v
16
Tyranosaw
4

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Metal Cutting Circular Saw
2.3
Biscuit Jointer
2.5
Rotary Scabbler
2.5
Reciprocating Saw
8
Jigsaw Cordless
8
Powered Stone Splitter
2.5
Cordless Trim Saw
2.5
Cut Off Saw TCT
2.5
Band Saw
2.5
Metal Cutting Saw 230mm
3.9
Precision Laminate Saw
2.5

CONCRETING


EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Vibrating Poker 1”
4
Vibrating Poker 1.5”
5
Vibrating Poker 2”
7
Vibrating Poker 3”
5.5
High Frequency Poker 110v
2.5
Air Driven Pokers
4.5
High F Poker 8m x 57mm
2.5
High F Poker 5m x 57mm
2.5
High F Poker 5m x 45mm
2.5

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
High F Poker 5m x 38mm
2.5
High F Poker 5m x 57mm
2.5
Easy Screed
1.5
Powered Float
6.6
Power Trowel Electric
2.5
Vibrating Screed
5.3
Roller Striker Hydraulic
4
Roller Striker Air
4

SANDERS

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Floor Sander
2.5
Belt Sander
2.5
Orbital Sander
5
Edge Sander
2.5
Disc Sander
2.5
Wood Plane
2.5
Router
2.5
Laminate Trimmer
2.5
Finishing Sander
2.5

ROTARY HAMMER DRILLS

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
General Purpose Drill
4
Heavy Duty Drill
2.5
Right Angle Drill
2.5
2.2kg Cordless Drill
8
3.9kg SDS
11
5.9kg Combi Hammer
6.5
7.9kg Combi Hammer
7
2.3kg SDS Light Duty
10
Dry Diamond Drill 110v
7
4.2kg Cordless Drill
11
Dry Diamond Drill 240v
7
4.7kg Cordless Drill
5

IMPACT WRENCHES
/SCREW DRIVERS

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
TEK Gun
2.5
Screwdriver 110v
2.5
Electric Impact Wrench
7
Drywall Auto Feed Screwdriver
2.5
Cordless Impact Driver
12

COMPACTION
PLATES/RAMMERS

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Trench Rammer
3.5
18” Petrol Plate
6.9
Forward/Reverse Diesel
4.9
Lightweight Plate
4.7

FLOOR SAWS

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
14” Petrol Floor Saw
1.9
18” Petrol Floor Saw
4.5
Radial Arm Saw Masonry
2.5
Masonry Saw Bench Petrol
4.6
Masonry Saw Bench 110v
4.0
Diamond Tile Saw
2.5

ELECTRIC BREAKERS

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Light Duty Demo Hammer 5kg
10
Med Duty Demo Hammer 10kg
14
Heavy Duty Breaker 29kg
13
TE 704
11
Med Duty Demo Hammer 11kg
8

CONCRETE CUTTING
/DRILLING HYDRAULIC

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Diamond Core Drill Hydraulic
2.5
Masonry Chainsaw Hydraulic
3.5

HYDRAULIC BREAKERS

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Heavy Duty Gun 25kg (VD)
5.5
Light Duty Gun 22kg (VD)
5.5

SURFACE PREPARATION

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Diamond Core Drill Hydraulic
3.0
Floor Polisher Scrubber
2.1
Surface Preparation Refina
1.67
Floor Scrubber Dryer
1.4
Concrete Planer
2.5
Small Multi Stripper
16.7
Large Multi Stripper
13.4
Tile Lifter MS330
13.42
Petrol De-Chipper
4
Surface Blaster
2.4
Paint & Artex Remover
2.1

AIR BREAKERS/AIR DRILLS/AIR TOOLS

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Air Pick 15kg – Low Vibration
6.5
Demo Pick 9kg – Low Vibration
8.9
Breaker 27kg – Low Vibration
3.4 to 4.6

2 STROKE BREAKERS

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Cobra 2 Stroke Breaker
2.5
Wacker BH23
12.8

MEGA MIXER

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Mega Mixer
2.1

WALL CHASERS

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Twin Blade Wall Chaser
2.5 to 4

SCABBLERS/NEEDLE GUNS

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Needle Gun Standard
12.2
Single Head Hand Scabbler
8.5
Triple Head Hand Scabbler
9.9 to 15
Pole Scabbler
24
Needle Gun Low Vibration
5.5
Single Head Hand Scabbler
5.5
Triple Head Hand Scabbler-(LV)
4.1
Pole Scabbler – Anti Vibration
3.5

METAL CUTTING/FABRICATION

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
Hand Held Threader 110v Rems
2.5
Bevel Cutter
2.5
Hole Cutting Saw
2.5
Powered Pipe Cutter
2.5
Rebar Cutter/Bender
2.5
Cordless Stud Cutter
2.5
Portable Power Bender
2.5
Mini Conduit Threader
2.5

GARDEN MACHINERY

 

EQUIPMENT
VIBRATION (m/s2)
2 Stroke Chainsaw
9
Rotavator
7.1
Cultivator
2.1
2 Stroke Brush Cutter
2.5
2 Stroke Hedge Cutter
3.5
Turf Cutter Petrol
2.1
Long Hedge Trimmer
2.5
Powered Sweeper 2-Stroke
7.6

HAND ARM VIBRATION SAFETY CHART

 

Vibration
Value
Max Usage period (m/s2)
In 8 Hrs (Mins)
LOW
2.5
480 mins
in 8 Hours
LOW
3.0
333 mins
in 8 Hours
LOW
3.5
245 mins
in 8 Hours
LOW
4.0
188 mins
in 8 Hours
LOW
4.5
148 mins
in 8 Hours
MEDIUM
5.0
120 mins
in 8 Hours
MEDIUM
5.5
99 mins
in 8 Hours
MEDIUM
6.0
83 mins
in 8 Hours
MEDIUM
6.5
71 mins
in 8 Hours
MEDIUM
7.0
61 mins
in 8 Hours
MEDIUM
7.5
53 mins
in 8 Hours
MEDIUM
8.0
47 mins
in 8 Hours
MEDIUM
8.5
42 mins
in 8 Hours
MEDIUM
9.0
37 mins
in 8 Hours
MEDIUM
9.5
33 mins
in 8 Hours
HIGH
10.0
30 mins
in 8 Hours
HIGH
10.5
27 mins
in 8 Hours
HIGH
11.0
25 mins
in 8 Hours
HIGH
11.5
23 mins
in 8 Hours
HIGH
12.0
21 mins
in 8 Hours

PLEASE NOTE:

Makes and Models may differ, in these cases the highest value is given. The figures are for guidance and comparison of equipment only.

* Trigger time measured in minutes.

The information provided on this chart superceeds any previous given information.