BAM Nuttall tests HAVi for hand-arm vibration exposure

BAM Nuttall has undertaken a two-month trial using HAVi to control exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV) among its workers. The small device has the individual tool's vibration level pre-set and is strapped to the handle to measure the 'trigger time' and calculate vibration points - 400 being the limit for any one day.

The contractor fitted HAVi to15 items on its site in Lenham, Kent and workers were given pocket books to record the points they accrued throughout the day when using different tools. BAM Nuttall site agent Nick Howard said: "HAVi is a very simple compact piece of kit and operatives easily understood how it worked and adopted it."

The device identified low and high risk areas, highlighting problem tools and methods and showed that even 'low risk' tools can have considerable HAV impact because of the usage time. While the contractor assessed whether the jobs HAVi identified as high risk could use more suitable tools or techniques, the operatives were rotated to share and dilute the vibration exposure.

Using HAVi minimises risk as the results are immediate and do not need to be logged and analysed to show the operative they have exceed the maximum dosage - by which time any damage has been done. The two-month trial provided clear guidelines for managing HAV risks on site, which BAM Nuttall's general manager Steve Cluer believes will become a benchmark for good practice across the company.

He said: "Having been exposed to this initial field testing, HAVi has demonstrated itself to be robust at withstanding typical site wear and tear. Staff have bought-in to the system and it definitely places an important part of working safely back into the hands of operatives."