Workplace vibration guidance material now available

Australian workers are exposed to vibration in a range of industries, including mining, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, trades, transport and utilities.

There were approximately 5260 workers compensation claims for injuries or illness attributed to exposure to vibration over the past 14 years, costing $134 million in workers compensation payments.

To increase awareness, help workplaces manage the risk and assist professionals measuring and assessing exposures, Safe Work Australia has released guidance material and technical information about exposure to vibration in workplaces.

Safe Work Australia’s guidance material on exposure to vibration in workplaces includes general guides and information sheets for workers and those managing workers who are, or may be, exposed to vibration. There are also guides to help work health and safety professionals measure and assess vibration in workplaces.

The workplace vibration guidance material available from the Safe Work Australia website includes:

• Guide to measuring and assessing workplace exposure to hand-arm vibration;
• Guide to measuring and assessing workplace exposure to whole-body vibration;
• Guide to managing the risks of exposure to hand-arm vibration in workplaces;
• Guide to managing the risks of exposure to whole-body vibration in workplaces;
• Information sheet: hand-arm vibration; and
• Information sheet: whole-body vibration.