HSPS02 – CONTROL OF VIBRATION –
VIBRATION POINTS SYSTEM
Health, Safety and Wellbeing Team
Vibration Exposure – Points System & Ready Reckoner
The table below is a ‘ready reckoner’ for calculating daily vibration exposures. All you need is the
vibration magnitude (level) and exposure time. The ready-reckoner covers a range of vibration
magnitudes up to 40m/s2 A(8) and a range of exposure times up to 10 hours.
The exposures for different combinations of vibration magnitude and exposure time are given in
exposure points instead of values in m/s2 A(8). You may find the exposure points easier to work
with than the A(8) values:

exposure points change simply with time: twice the exposure time, twice the number of
points;

exposure points can be added together, for example where a worker is exposed to two or
more different sources of vibration in a day;

the exposure action value (2.5m/s2 A(8)) is equal to 100 points (and is the point where
Health Surveillance kicks in);

the exposure limit value (5m/s2 A(8)) is equal to 400 points (Maximum daily dose).
Using the ready reckoner
1.
Find your equipment colour tag with number on the left-hand side.
2.
Find the exposure time (or the nearest value) on the grey scale across the bottom of the
table.
Fig 1
Version 4 November 2011
Not protectively marked
3. Find the value in the table that line up with the equipment colour tag and
time. The illustration shows how it works for a magnitude of 5m/s2 A(8) (red
tag, large number 5) and an exposure time of 3 hours: in this case the
exposure corresponds to 150 points.
Fig 2
4. Compare the point’s value with the exposure action and limit values (100 and
400 points respectively). In this example the score of 150 points lies above
the exposure action value.
The key at the top right of the Vibration Exposure Points System and Ready
Reckoner:
The colour of the square containing the exposure point’s value tells you whether the
exposure exceeds, or is likely to exceed, the exposure action or limit value:
5. If a worker is exposed to more than one tool or process during the day,
repeat steps 1 – 3 for each one, add the points, and compare the total with
the exposure action value (100) and the exposure limit value (400).
The daily points accumulated will be put down on the Daily/Weekly data form and given
to the responsible person in charge of collecting them for recording purposes
Page 2 of 6
Vibration Exposure – Points System and Ready Reckoner
Page 3 of 6
HAND-ARM VIBRATION WEEKLY SUPERVISORS MONITORING FORM
Department:
Service Unit
Please indicate whether or not the daily Limit Value has been exceeded with either a Y or N
1
Operatives Name
M
T
W
T
F
A.N.Other
N
N
N
N
N
Sa
Su
Reasons for Exceeding
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Supervisors Name (Print):
Managers Name (Print):
Supervisors Signature:
Managers Signature:
Date
Date:
Page 4 of 6
Action Required
Operatives’ daily/weekly Vibration Data Form
Instructions:
1. Each piece of equipment will be colour coded and a number displayed according to its
vibration magnitude. An example would be a disk cutter with a vibration magnitude of 4
with a colour sticker/tag of BLACK.
2. The equipment trigger time (actual operating time) will be calculated by the operative and,
the VIBRATION READY-RECKONER will be used to find out the points to put on the
OPERATIVES DAILY/WEEKLY VIBRATION FORM.
3. The OPERATIVES DAILY/WEEKLY VIBRATION FORM allows for 7 pieces of equipment
of the same colour, converted into points with the VIBRATION READY-RECKONER to
be written down along the columns, for that day. This is to ensure that the colours from
GREEN to RED (Low to High Risk) are identified by the operative and the
Supervisor/Manager, so appropriate action can be taken if required.
4. When the operative is calculating the points, as each task finishes they should be aware of
not going beyond the daily 400 points limit.
5. The operative at the end of the day will calculate each row and put the sum in the DAILY
TOTALS column then add all the figures together to give a DAILY GROSS TOTAL for the
day.
6. The GROSS TOTALS will be added together to give a FULL WEEKLY TOTAL and be
given to the Supervisor/Lead Officer at the end of the week or the following MONDAY
MORNING.
7.
Supervisors are reminded that it is their responsibility to check that the operatives
vibration data forms are completed and that they are an accurate representation of the
activities carried out. In order to ensure continued accuracy it is also recommended that
periodic checks of the forms are carried out against the operative’s daily work.
8.
The operatives vibration data forms should be attached to the supervisors vibration
exposure. These records should be kept for a period of at least six years.
Note: It is the operative’s responsibility to inform management if they have difficulties in
completing the Operatives Daily/Weekly Vibration Form. This may be due to problems with
writing, reading, adding up figures or colour vision impairment.
Management will ensure that all identified problems of this nature will be kept strictly confidential
and adequate solutions will be found to alleviate the problem.
Operatives Daily/Weekly Data form
Equipment tag numbers 1
Equipment tag colours
2
3
4
5+
GROSS
TOTAL
Monday
Monday
Monday
Monday
Monday
Monday
Monday
DAILY TOTALS
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Tuesday
DAILY TOTALS
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
Wednesday
DAILY TOTALS
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
Thursday
DAILY TOTALS
Friday
Friday
Friday
Friday
Friday
Friday
Friday
DAILY TOTALS
WEEK ENDING: _______________________ SIGNATURE: ____________