Vibration hazards in the workplace are a group of hand-arm injuries that can happen in any industry. Hand-held power equipment such as chainsaws, grinders, and hedge trimmers can transmit their vibration to the hand. Extended exposure to these tools can cause damage to the arm muscles and hinder employees from working. So knowing how to reduce vibration is necessary.
Reducing vibration injuries is only possible with a practical plan with calculated steps to eliminate risk factors. Here, you can learn more about several strategies that help reduce these injuries.
The Health Effects of Vibration Injuries
Workers in different industries can experience whole body vibration side effects and injuries. These injuries start as pain and progress slowly with continued exposure. The vibrations can hurt the tendons, muscles, and joints in your hands and arms, leading to a condition called Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
Before you learn how to reduce vibration, you should be able to identify the symptoms that include:
- Loss of grip
- Fingers losing sensation
- Fingers whitening when exposed to cold
- Pain and coldness in the hands and fingers
It may take several months before you notice these symptoms. So you should seek help immediately upon experiencing pain in your hand to keep it from progressing.
Reduce Workplace Vibration Injuries
Reducing vibration and preventing musculoskeletal disorders at work starts with identifying risk factors. Here are some aspects you can address to minimize vibration hazards in the workplace.
Improve Workstation Design
Redesigning your workstations allows you to break the cycle of rising attrition and injury rates. Improving your workstation designs is also how you can reduce vibration to support your employees’ health. Try to minimize the load on their hands and use helpful tools when possible.
Select Better Equipment
Another way to reduce injury is by selecting better equipment with the lowest vibration. Make sure the tools you pick are suitable for the tasks. Getting small equipment without enough power can expose your employees to vibrations for extended periods. So research the tools and choose the most efficient ones.
Replace Old Equipment
Replacing worn-out equipment is another effective strategy for injury prevention. You should look into replacement policies if you truly want to know how to reduce vibration.
Research different suppliers and compare their products until you find the most suitable equipment with the lowest possible vibration. Have your employees try the equipment to ensure they are perfect for the job.
Provide the Appropriate Clothing
Get proper clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for your employees to reduce whole body vibration side effects. Gloves may be the first things that come to mind. However, they are not enough. You must keep your employees warm with other appropriate clothing to help protect them from getting white fingers from vibration.
Change Your Work Methods
Changing your work methods is how you can reduce vibration to protect your employees. A professional ergonomic evaluation can help optimize your work practices and eliminate the unnecessary use of vibrating tools. Trade journals can also help you learn about the best practices in your industry and create better work methods.
Change Your Work Schedules
The last strategy you can use to reduce vibration hazards in the workplace is to change your work schedule. Prolonged exposure to vibration has damaging effects. Try to shorten those periods if you have to work with vibrating tools. Give your employees small breaks to recover.
How to Know If These Strategies Are Working?
You know how to reduce vibration, but how can you tell if it’s working? Here are several things you can do:
- Check that your employees and managers are implementing the new protocols
- Ask if your employees have experienced any pain from the vibrating tools
- Assess vibration-related injury rates and your employees’ performance
Reduce Vibration Injuries With BIOKINETIX
Preventing and reducing vibration injuries is possible with a strategic plan and using the correct tools and equipment. Even with knowing how to decrease vibration, you may still need help assessing and addressing the risk factors in your work environment.
We can help you design a workplace with minimum injuries and keep your employees safe from various accidents, including vibration injuries. At BIOKINETIX, we focus on the Science of More UpTime and workplace safety training, so we proactively prevent injuries. Schedule a demo today to see how our programs can protect you and your employees.
