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The Site Waste Management Plans Regulations 2008

The government consulted on the proposed Site Waste Management Plans Regulations between April and July 2007. A copy of the consultation document can be downloaded at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/construction-sitewaste/consultation.pdf . It is proposed that the Regulations will come into force on April 6th 2008. Guidance on waste management plans can be downloaded at http://www.netregs-swmp.co.uk/. For assistance with waste management plans please contact Mark Snelling on 01372 462277.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act introduces a new offence, across the UK, for prosecuting companies and other organisations where there has been a gross failing, throughout the organisation, in the management of health and safety with fatal consequences.

The new offence will come into force on 6 April 2008. A copy of the Act can be found a thttp://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2007/ukpga_20070019_en_1

Guidance on the Act can be downloaded at http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/manslaughteractguidance.htm

Construction Design and Management Regulations 2007

The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 came into force on the 6th April 2007.

The following information is a summary of the requirements of the new regulations however for Clients who wish to know more we have created a new PowerPoint presentation Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2007 - An introduction for clients wishing to undertake construction work

You can also download a copy of the same briefing in PDF format by following this link.

Introduction

The Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 1994 and the Construction (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1996 have been revised to increase the focus on effective planning and management of construction projects and combined in one new set of Regulations, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007.

According to the Health and Safety Executive the revised regulations will require a major shift in attitude by some duty holders; especially where they have developed an unhelpful reliance on paper based systems, rather than actually focusing on reducing risk.

The aims of the new regulations are to have the right people for the right job at the right time to reduce risk, reduce paperwork and encourage teamwork. The focus is on effective planning and reducing risk. Not the production of paperwork.

The following is a summary of management duties as set out the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 that came into force on 6th April 2007.

1. Application
2. Competence
3. General principles of prevention
4. Client’s duties on all projects
5. Duties of designers
6. Duties of contractors
7. Additional duties where project is notifiable
8. Client’s duties where a project is notifiable
9. Additional duties of designers
10. Additional duties of contractors
11. Duties of CDM co-ordinators
13. Duties of the principal contractor

 

1. Application

The Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 apply to and in relation to construction work except for the duties under Part 3 which shall apply only where a project is notifiable and is carried out for or on behalf of, or by, a client.

Under the Regulations a Client is a person who in the course or furtherance of a business seeks or accepts the services of another which may be used in the carrying out of a project for him or carries out a project himself.

In this context a project is a project which includes or is intended to include construction work and includes all planning, design, management or other work involved in a project until the end of the construction phase.

Construction work is the carrying out of any building, civil engineering or engineering construction work and includes:

a) the construction, alteration, conversion, fitting out, commissioning, renovation, repair, upkeep, redecoration or other maintenance (including cleaning which involves the use of water or an abrasive at high pressure or the use of corrosive or toxic substances), de-commissioning, demolition or dismantling of a structure;

b) the preparation for an intended structure, including site clearance, exploration, investigation (but not site survey) and excavation, and the clearance or preparation of the site or structure for use or occupation at its conclusion;

c) the assembly on site of prefabricated elements to form a structure or the disassembly on site of prefabricated elements which, immediately before such disassembly, formed a structure;

d) the removal of a structure or of any product or waste resulting from demolition or dismantling of a structure or from disassembly of prefabricated elements which immediately before such disassembly formed such a structure; and

e) the installation, commissioning, maintenance, repair or removal of mechanical, electrical, gas, compressed air, hydraulic, telecommunications, computer or similar services which are normally fixed within or to a structure,
but does not include the exploration for or extraction of mineral resources or activities preparatory carried out at a place where such exploration or extraction is carried out.

2. Competence

Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 no person on whom the Regulations place a duty can appoint or engage a CDM co-ordinator, designer, principal contractor or contractor unless he has taken reasonable steps to ensure that the person to be appointed or engaged is competent.

3. General principles of prevention

Every person on whom a duty is placed by the Regulations in relation to the design, planning and preparation of a project shall take account of the general principles of prevention in the performance of those duties during all the stages of the project.

The general principles of prevention are those specified in Schedule 1 to the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

4. Client’s duties on all projects

Clients must take reasonable steps to ensure that the arrangements made for managing the project (including the allocation of sufficient time and other resources) are suitable to ensure that:

a) the construction work can be carried out so far as is reasonably practicable without risk to the health and safety of any person;

b) the requirements of Schedule 2 (welfare) are complied with; and

c) any structure designed for use as a workplace has been designed taking account of the provisions of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

The client must also take reasonable steps to ensure that the arrangements are maintained and reviewed throughout the project.

Clients must ensure that every person designing the structure and every contractor who has been or may be appointed by the client, is promptly provided with suitable pre-construction information to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health and safety of persons:

a) engaged in the construction work;

b) liable to be affected by the way in which it is carried out; and

c) who will use the structure as a workplace; and

The pre-construction information shall consist of all the information in the client’s possession (or which is reasonably obtainable), including:

a) any information about or affecting the site or the construction work;

b) any information concerning the proposed use of the structure as a workplace;

c) the minimum amount of time before the construction phase which will be allowed to the contractors appointed by the client for planning and preparation for construction work; and

d) any information in any existing health and safety file,

5. Duties of designers

No designer shall commence work in relation to a project unless any client for the project is aware of his duties under these Regulations.

Where a project is notifiable, no designer shall commence work (other than initial design work) in relation to the project unless a CDM co-ordinator has been appointed for the project.

Design includes drawings, design details, specification and bill of quantities (including specification of articles or substances) relating to a structure, and calculations prepared for the purpose of a design.

A designer is any person (including a client, contractor or other person) who in the course or furtherance of a business:

a) prepares or modifies a design; or

b) arranges for or instructs any person under his control to do so,
that relates to a structure or to a product or mechanical or electrical system intended for a particular structure.

Under the new regulations a designer must in preparing or modifying a design which may be used in construction work in Great Britain avoid foreseeable risks to the health and safety of any person:

a) carrying out construction work;

b) liable to be affected by such construction work;

c) cleaning any window or any transparent or translucent wall, ceiling or roof in or on a structure;

d) maintaining the permanent fixtures and fittings of a structure; or

e) using a structure designed as a workplace.

In discharging their duties designers must:

a) eliminate hazards which may give rise to risks; and

b) reduce risks from any remaining hazards,

and in so doing shall give collective measures priority over individual measures.

In designing any structure for use as a workplace the designer shall take account of the provisions of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 which relate to the design of, and materials used in, the structure.

The designer shall take all reasonable steps to provide with his design sufficient information about aspects of the design of the structure or its construction or maintenance as will adequately assist clients, other designers and contractors to comply with their duties under the CDM Regulations.

6. Duties of contractors

No contractor shall carry out construction work in relation to a project unless any client for the project is aware of his duties under these Regulations.

A contractor under the new Regulations is any person (including a client, principal contractor or other person referred to in these Regulations) who, in the course or furtherance of a business, carries out or manages construction work.

Contractors must plan, manage and monitor construction work carried out by him or under his control in a way which ensures that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is carried out without risks to health and safety.

Contractors must ensure that any contractor whom he appoints or engages in his turn in connection with a project is informed of the minimum amount of time which will be allowed to him for planning and preparation before he begins construction work.

Every contractor shall provide every worker carrying out the construction work under his control with any information and training which he needs for the particular work to be carried out safely and without risk to health, including:

a) suitable site induction, where not provided by any principal contractor;

b) information on the risks to their health and safety:

i) identified by his risk assessment; or

ii) arising out of the conduct by another contractor of his undertaking and of which he is or ought reasonably to be aware;

c) the measures which have been identified by the contractor in consequence of his risk assessment;

d) any site rules;

e) the procedures to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger to such workers; and the identity of the persons nominated to implement those procedures.

In addition to the duties above every contractor provide his employees with any health and safety training required by the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

No contractor shall begin work on a construction site unless reasonable steps have been taken to prevent access by unauthorised persons to that site.

Every contractor shall ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the requirements of Schedule 2 are complied with throughout the construction phase in respect of any person at work who is under his control.

7. Additional duties where project is notifiable

Where a project is notifiable all duty holders have additional duties they must perform.

A project is notifiable if the construction phase is likely to involve more than 30 days or 500 person days, of construction work. The 5 person rule included in CDM94 has disappeared.

8. Client’s duties where a project is notifiable

Where a project is notifiable, the client must also appoint a CDM co-ordinator (CDM-C) as soon as is practicable after initial design work or other preparation for construction work has begun.

After appointing a CDM-C the client shall also appoint a principal contractor as soon as is practicable after the client knows enough about the project to be able to select a suitable person for such appointment.

Where the client has not appointed a CDM-C or principal contractor, or both, they will be deemed to have appointed themselves in the roles and be responsible for undertaking the duties themselves.

The client must provide the CDM-C when appointed with pre-construction information consisting of:

a) any information about or affecting the site or the construction work;

b) any information concerning the proposed use of the structure as a workplace;

c) the minimum amount of time before the construction phase which will be allowed to the contractors appointed by the client for planning and preparation for construction work; and

d) any information in any existing health and safety file,
which is relevant to designers and contractors appointed on the project.

The client must ensure that the construction phase does not start unless the principal contractor has prepared a suitable construction phase plan and he is satisfied that the requirements for the provision of welfare facilities will be complied with during the construction phase.

The client shall ensure that the CDM-C is provided with all health and safety information in their possession (or which is reasonably obtainable) relating to the project which is likely to be needed for inclusion in the health and safety file.

Where a single health and safety file relates to more than one project, site or structure, or where it includes other related information, the client shall ensure that the information relating to each site or structure can be easily identified.
The client must take reasonable steps to ensure that after the construction phase the information in the health and safety file is kept available for inspection by any person who may need it and is revised as often as may be appropriate to incorporate any relevant new information, including information specified in regulation 4(9)(c) of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.

9. Additional duties of designers

Where a project is notifiable, no designer shall commence work (other than initial design work) in relation to the project unless a CDM-C has been appointed for the project.

The designer shall take all reasonable steps to provide with his design sufficient information about aspects of the design of the structure or its construction or maintenance as will adequately assist the CDM-C to comply with his duties under these Regulations, including his duties in relation to the health and safety file.

10. Additional duties of contractors

Where a project is notifiable, no contractor shall carry out construction work in relation to the project unless:

a) he has been provided with the names of the CDM-C and principal contractor;

b) he has been given access to such part of the construction phase plan as is relevant to the work to be performed by him, containing sufficient detail in relation to such work; and

c) notice of the project has been given to the Health and Safety Executive.

Every contractor shall:

a) promptly provide the principal contractor with any information (including any relevant part of any risk assessment in his possession or control) which:

i) might affect the health or safety of any person carrying out the construction work or of any person who may be affected by it,

ii) might justify a review of the construction phase plan, or

iii) which has been identified for inclusion in the health and safety file;

b) promptly identify any contractor whom he appoints or engages in his turn in connection with the project to the principal contractor;

c) comply with any directions of the principal contractor given to him, and any site rules;

d) promptly provide the principal contractor with the information in relation to any death, injury, condition or dangerous occurrence which the contractor is required to notify or report under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995.

Every contractor shall:

a) in complying with his duties under the Regulations take all reasonable steps to ensure that the construction work is carried out in accordance with the construction phase plan;

b) take appropriate action to ensure health and safety where it is not possible to comply with the construction phase plan in any particular case; and

c) notify the principal contractor of any significant finding which requires the construction phase plan to be altered or added to.

11. Duties of CDM Co-ordinators (CDM-C)

The CDM-C must as soon as is practicable after his appointment ensure that notice is given to the Executive of the project. Any notice shall be signed by or on behalf of the client or, if sent by electronic means, shall otherwise show that he has approved it.

The CDM-C duties include:

a) giving suitable and sufficient advice and assistance to the client on undertaking the measures he needs to take to comply with the CDM Regulations during the project.

b) ensuring that suitable arrangements are made and implemented for the co-ordination of health and safety measures during planning and preparation for the construction phase, including facilitating:

i) co-operation and co-ordination between persons concerned in the project; and

ii) the application of the general principles of prevention; and

c) liaising with the principal contractor regarding:

i) the contents of the health and safety file;

ii) the information which the principal contractor needs to prepare the construction phase plan;

iii) any design development which may affect planning and management of the construction work.

The CDM-C must also:

a) take all reasonable steps to identify and collect the pre-construction information; and

b) promptly provide in a convenient form as needed to:

i) every person designing the structure; and

ii) every contractor who has been or may be appointed by the client (including the principal contractor),

c) take all reasonable steps to ensure that designers comply with their duties under the Regulations;

d) take all reasonable steps to ensure co-operation between designers and the principal contractor during the construction phase in relation to any design or change to a design;

e) prepare, where none exists, and otherwise review and update the health and safety file containing information relating to the project which is likely to be needed during any subsequent construction work to ensure the health and safety of any person; and

f) at the end of the construction phase, pass the health and safety file to the client.

12. Duties of the principal contractor

The principal contractor for a project shall:

a) plan, manage and monitor the construction phase in a way which ensures that, so far as is reasonably practicable, it is carried out without risks to health or safety, including facilitating:

i) co-operation and co-ordination between persons concerned in the project; and

ii) the application of the general principles of prevention;

b) liaise with the CDM-Cr during the construction phase in relation to any design or change to a design;

c) ensure that welfare facilities sufficient to comply with the requirements of Schedule 2 of the Regulations are provided throughout the construction phase;

d) where necessary for health and safety, draw up rules which are appropriate to the construction site and the activities on it (referred to in the Regulations as “site rules”);

e) give reasonable directions to any contractor so far as is necessary to enable them to comply with their duties under these Regulations;

f) ensure that every contractor is informed of the minimum amount of time which will be allowed to him for planning and preparation before he begins construction work;

g) where necessary, consult a contractor before finalising such part of the construction phase plan as is relevant to the work to be performed by him;

h) ensure that every contractor is given, before he begins construction work and in sufficient time to enable him to prepare properly for that work, access to such part of the construction phase plan as is relevant to the work to be performed by him;

i) ensure that every contractor is given, before he begins construction work and in sufficient time to enable him to prepare properly for that work, such further information as he needs:

i) to comply punctually with his duties under the Regulations; and

ii) to carry out the work to be performed by him without risk, so far as is reasonably practicable, to the health and safety of any person;

j) identify to each contractor the information relating to the contractor’s activity which is likely to be required by the CDM co-ordinator for inclusion in the health and safety file and ensure that such information is promptly provided to the CDM co-ordinator;

k) ensure that the particulars required to be in the notice to the HSE are displayed in a readable condition in a position where they can be read by any worker engaged in the construction work; and

l) take reasonable steps to prevent access by unauthorised persons to the construction site.

The principal contractor shall also take all reasonable steps to ensure that every worker carrying out the construction work is provided with:

a) a suitable site induction;

b) the information and training by their employer where this is required by the Regulations; and

c) any further information and training which he needs for the particular work to be carried out without undue risk to health or safety.

The principal contractor shall:

a) before the start of the construction phase, prepare a construction phase plan which is sufficient to ensure that the construction phase is planned, managed and monitored in a way which enables the construction work to be started so far as is reasonably practicable without risk to health or safety, paying adequate regard to the information provided by the designer and the pre-construction information;

b) from time to time and as often as may be appropriate throughout the project update, review, revise and refine the construction phase plan so that it continues to be sufficient to ensure that the construction phase is planned, managed and monitored in a way which enables the construction work to be carried out so far as is reasonably practicable without risk to health or safety; and

c) arrange for the construction phase plan to be implemented in a way which will ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health and safety of all persons carrying out the construction work and all persons who may be affected by the work.

The principal contractor shall take all reasonable steps to ensure that the construction phase plan identifies the risks to health and safety arising from the construction work (including the risks specific to the particular type of construction work concerned) and includes suitable and sufficient measures to address such risks, including any site rules.

The principal contractor shall:

a) make and maintain arrangements which will enable him and the workers engaged in the construction work to co-operate effectively in promoting and developing measures to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the workers and in checking the effectiveness of such measures;

b) consult those workers or their representatives in good time on matters connected with the project which may affect their health, safety or welfare, so far as they or their representatives are not so consulted on those matters by any employer of theirs;

c) ensure that such workers or their representatives can inspect and take copies of any information which the principal contractor has, or which these Regulations require to be provided to him, which relates to the planning and management of the project, or which otherwise may affect their health, safety or welfare at the site

Further Information

For those who want to know more the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 are available to download at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2007/20070320.htm

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The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 came into force on 13 November 2006 (Asbestos Regulations - SI 2006/2737)

1. These Regulations revoke and replace the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2675) and revoke and re-enact, with modifications, the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 (S.I. 1983/1649) as amended and the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/3067) as amended.

2. The licensing requirements of the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 (S.I. 1983/1649, as amended by S.I. 1998/3233) are re-enacted in regulation 8, and licenses made subject to a maximum duration of three years. Provision for exemptions is made in regulation 32(1) and for the validity of existing licenses in regulation 35(1).

3. Part 3 of the regulations re-enact the prohibitions in the Asbestos (Prohibitions) Regulations 1992 (S.I. 1992/3067, as amended by S.I. 1999/2373, S.I. 1999/2977 and S.I. 2003/1889) in updated form omitting expired derogations. Provision for exemptions is carried forward in regulations 32(2) and 33.
4. Part 2 of the Regulations replaces the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/2675) and in addition to minor and drafting amendments makes changes of substance including the following:

(a) includes certain further definitions and introduce a new control limit common to all types of asbestos and lower than that applying previously to any (regulation 2(1));

(b) provides for the measurement of the control limit by the 1997 World Health Organisation ("WHO") recommended method set out in the publication “Determination of airborne fibre concentrations. A recommended method, by phase-contrast optical microscopy (membrane filter method), WHO Geneva 1997 (ISBN 92 4 154496 1) (regulation 2(1));

(c) applies the duties in the regulations to all work with asbestos, save for exceptions in respect of licensing, notification, accident and emergency arrangements, asbestos areas and health surveillance in respect of sporadic and low intensity exposure (regulation 3(2));

(d) extends the list of topics on which information, instruction and training must be given to employees (regulation 10(1));

(e) provides for the provision of respiratory protective equipment so far as is reasonably practicable to any employee who is exposed to asbestos (regulation 11(2));

(f) provides that the control limit shall not be exceeded and for the actions to be taken if this should occur (regulation 11(5));

(g) provides that only competent persons should enter respirator zones or supervise employees in respirator zones (regulation 18(4));

(h) provides for accreditation of persons who are requested to assess premises for the issue of a site clearance certificate for reoccupation (regulation 20(4)); and

(i) omits labelling requirements which are now found in Part 3 (regulation 30).

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The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

This Order came into force on the 1st October 2006. It reforms the law relating to fire safety in non-domestic premises.

It replaces fire certification under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 with a general duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of employees, a general duty, in relation to non-employees to take such fire precautions as may reasonably be required in the circumstances to ensure that premises are safe and a duty to carry out a risk assessment.

It revokes the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 and subsequent amendments although it requires a similar risk based approach to fire safety in all non-domestic premises.

Under the order the responsible person (the employer, the person who has control of the premises, and/or the owner) must ensure that any duty imposed by or made under the order or by Regulations with respect of those premises.

To comply with the Order the responsible person must:

  1. take such general fire precautions as will ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of any of his employees and in relation to relevant persons who are not his employees, take such general fire precautions as may reasonably be required in the circumstances of the case to ensure that the premises are safe;
  2. make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons are exposed for the purpose of identifying the general fire precautions he needs to take to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed on him by or under this Order (any preventive and protective measures must follow the principles specified in Part 3 of Schedule 1 of the Order);
  3. make and give effect to such arrangements as are appropriate for the effective planning, organisation, control, monitoring and review of the preventive and protective measures (and must record the arrangements he employs five or more employees or a licence under an enactment is in force in relation to the premises);
  4. where a dangerous substance is present in or on the premises, ensure that risk to relevant persons related to the presence of the substance is either eliminated or reduced so far as is reasonably practicable;
  5. where necessary ensure that the premises are equipped with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and with fire detectors and alarms; and any non-automatic fire-fighting equipment is easily accessible, simple to use and indicated by signs;
  6. where necessary ensure that routes to emergency exits from premises and the exits themselves are kept clear at all times;
  7. where necessary in order to safeguard the safety of relevant persons ensure:
  • emergency routes and exits must lead as directly as possible to a place of safety;
  • in the event of danger, it must be possible for persons to evacuate the premises as quickly and as safely as possible;
  • the number, distribution and dimensions of emergency routes and exits must be adequate having regard to the use, equipment and dimensions of the premises and the maximum number of persons who may be present there at any one time;
  • emergency doors must open in the direction of escape;
  • sliding or revolving doors must not be used for exits specifically intended as emergency exits;
  • emergency doors must not be so locked or fastened that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by any person who may require to use them in an emergency;
  • emergency routes and exits must be indicated by signs; and
  • emergency routes and exits requiring illumination must be provided with emergency lighting of adequate intensity in the case of failure of their normal lighting.
  1. must:
  • establish and, where necessary, give effect to appropriate procedures, including safety drills, to be followed in the event of serious and imminent danger to relevant persons;
  • nominate a sufficient number of competent persons to implement those procedures in so far as they relate to the evacuation of relevant persons from the premises; and
  • ensure that no relevant person has access to any area to which it is necessary to restrict access on grounds of safety, unless the person concerned has received adequate safety instruction.
  1. where necessary ensure that the premises and any facilities, equipment and devices provided in respect of the premises under this Order or under any other enactment, are subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.
  2. appoint one or more competent persons to assist him in undertaking the preventive and protective measures;
  3. provide his employees with comprehensible and relevant information on:
  • the risks to them identified by the risk assessment;
  • the preventive and protective measures;
  • the procedures and the measures taken to comply with the Order; and
  • the identities of those persons nominated competent persons to assist him in undertaking the preventive and protective measures
  1. ensure that the employer of any employees from an outside undertaking who are working in or on the premises is provided with the same comprehensible and relevant information that is provided to employees;

Where two or more responsible persons share, or have duties in respect of, premises (whether on a temporary or a permanent basis) each such person must:

  1. co-operate with the other responsible person concerned so far as is necessary to enable them to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed on them by or under the Order;
  2. take all reasonable steps to co-ordinate the measures taken to comply with the requirements and prohibitions imposed on him by or under the Order;
  3. take all reasonable steps to inform the other responsible persons concerned of the risks arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him of his undertaking.

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Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

These regulations came into force on 6 July 2005. They help both employers and employees to take preventive action from vibration risks in the workplace and deals with the control of diseases caused by vibration at work from equipment, vehicles and machines.

Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) is a major cause of occupational ill health and it is estimated around five million workers are exposed to HAV in the workplace. Two million of these workers are exposed to levels of vibration where there are clear risks of developing disease. Each year, approximately 3,000 new claims for Industrial Injury Disability Benefit are made in relation to vibration white finger and vibration related carpal tunnel syndrome.

There is a transitional period for the exposure limit values up to 2010. This would allow work activities where the use of older tools and machinery cannot keep exposures below the exposure limit value to continue in certain circumstances. The transitional period has been extended to 2014 in the case of whole-body exposures in the agriculture and forestry sectors.

Dr Elizabeth Gibby, Head of Injuries Reduction at HSE said, “Hand-arm vibration syndrome is a serious and widespread occupational disease affecting hundreds of thousands of people in Britain. I very much welcome the new Regulations and believe they will boost our efforts in reducing the risks to acceptable levels.

“Most employers in industry understand that regulation is necessary and accept that hand-arm vibration syndrome is a major occupational health problem that needs to be addressed.

“I find it heartening that many industries and employers have already made serious efforts to adhere with the requirements of these new regulations even before they have come into force.

“HSE and industry have together done much to tackle the problem of vibration in the workplace over the past 10 years and have achieved a lot of success through helpful guidance and industry wide campaigns. I am optimistic that by continuing to work closely with industry, we can get closer to our goal of eliminating new cases of disabling disease.”

Control the risks from hand-arm vibration INDG175(rev2)

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg175.pdf

Control back-pain risks from whole-body vibration INDG242(rev1)

www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg242.pdf

Hand-arm vibration INDG296(rev1)

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg296.pdf

Drive away bad backs INDG404

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg404.pdf

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