HAVS Control Measures: How to Reduce Vibration Exposure on Site

Why Controls Matter More Than Calculations

Calculating vibration exposure tells you where you stand. Controls are what actually reduce the risk. The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to reduce exposure to as low as is reasonably practicable — and to introduce a specific programme of controls once any worker's exposure reaches the EAV (2.5 m/s² A(8) / 100 exposure points).

Here's what works on a real construction site, in order of effectiveness.

1. Eliminate the Vibration Source

The most effective control: remove the need for vibrating tools entirely.

• Design out vibration — specify cast-in conduit runs instead of chasing channels in finished concrete. Use pre-formed openings instead of drilling through walls.
• Use mechanical plant — break concrete with an excavator-mounted breaker instead of a hand-held one. The operator still uses the machine, but hands-on vibration exposure drops to near zero.
• Prefabricate off-site — cutting, grinding, and drilling done in a workshop with fixed machinery (lower vibration, shorter exposure) rather than with hand tools on site.

Elimination isn't always possible. When it isn't, move down the hierarchy.

2. Substitute Lower-Vibration Tools

Not all tools are equal. Two breakers doing the same job can have vibration magnitudes that differ by a factor of 3.

Example	Higher vibration	Lower vibration alternative
Breaking concrete	Standard pneumatic breaker (18+ m/s²)	Breaker with active vibration reduction (8–12 m/s²)
Cutting paving	Disc cutter (7 m/s²)	Table saw with water feed (3–5 m/s²)
Compacting sub-base	Plate compactor (13 m/s²)	Ride-on roller (1–3 m/s² to hands)
Drilling masonry	Standard SDS drill (13 m/s²)	Drill with vibration dampening (7–10 m/s²)

When buying or hiring tools, check the vibration magnitude in the manufacturer's data sheet. Choose the lowest-vibration option that gets the job done. The upfront cost difference is usually minor compared to the compliance risk.

3. Limit Trigger Time

If the tool can't be eliminated or substituted, reduce how long each worker uses it.

Job rotation: Spread vibrating tool use across more workers. If a breaking task takes 2 hours, rotate two workers at 1 hour each rather than having one worker do all of it. Each worker gets half the exposure.

Task scheduling: Plan high-vibration tasks for shorter durations. A groundworker who does 40 minutes of breaking in the morning and 40 minutes of compacting in the afternoon has double the total exposure of two workers who each do one task.

Trigger time monitoring: The hard part. Estimating trigger time is easy to get wrong — supervisors tend to underestimate short bursts and overestimate long tasks. Track actual trigger times, not guesses. Use our free HAVS Exposure Calculator to convert trigger times into exposure points.

4. Maintain Tools Properly

Worn, blunt, or damaged tools vibrate more. A drill with a dull bit takes longer to drill the same hole, increasing both vibration magnitude and trigger time.

• Replace worn consumables (drill bits, grinding discs, breaker chisels) before they become inefficient
• Follow manufacturer service schedules
• Note the tool's condition in your HAVS register — a tool's real-world vibration increases as it ages
• Remove damaged tools from site

5. Adapt Working Practices

Practical changes that reduce effective exposure:

• Warm hands before and during work — cold increases the risk of HAVS symptoms developing. Provide warm welfare facilities and encourage breaks in cold weather.
• Avoid gripping tools harder than necessary — excessive grip force doesn't improve control but does increase vibration transmission to the hand
• Use sharp, well-maintained accessories — a sharp chisel on a breaker cuts faster with less vibration than a blunt one
• Take regular breaks — even short breaks between exposure periods help. Continuous exposure is worse than the same total time broken into intervals.

What About Anti-Vibration Gloves?

Anti-vibration (AV) gloves are commonly misunderstood. HSE's guidance is clear: AV gloves do not provide effective protection against the vibration frequencies that cause HAVS (25-1000 Hz). They may reduce higher-frequency vibrations slightly, but they cannot be relied on as a control measure.

AV gloves can be helpful for keeping hands warm (which does reduce HAVS risk), but they should never be listed as a primary control measure in your risk assessment. If your risk assessment relies on AV gloves to reduce exposure, it isn't adequate.

Putting Controls Into Practice

A practical control programme for a small contractor:

1. Audit your tools — list every vibrating tool with its vibration magnitude. Use the HAVS Trigger Time Chart to identify which tools hit the EAV fastest.
2. Identify the worst offenders — breakers, compactors, and needle scalers are usually the highest risk. Target substitution and time limits here first.
3. Set up rotation — assign vibrating tool tasks to multiple workers where possible. No single worker should bear all the high-vibration work.
4. Track daily exposure — log trigger times and calculate points. This is where most small firms fail — the controls exist on paper but nobody checks whether they're working.
5. Review quarterly — are exposure levels actually decreasing? If not, the controls need to change.

Summary

Control	Effectiveness	Cost	Practical notes
Eliminate vibration source	Highest	Varies	Best where design allows it (pre-fab, mechanical plant)
Substitute lower-vibration tools	High	Low-Med	Check magnitude before buying/hiring. Biggest gains on breakers and compactors.
Limit trigger time / rotate	Medium	None	Requires supervision and tracking. Easy to slip without monitoring.
Maintain tools properly	Medium	Low	Often overlooked. Dull accessories = more vibration + longer exposure.
Adapt working practices	Lower	None	Warm hands, avoid over-gripping, take breaks. Complementary, not primary.
Anti-vibration gloves	Minimal	Low	HSE does not consider these effective for HAVS-frequency vibration. Keep hands warm = yes. Reduce vibration = no.

Sources

• The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/1093)
• HSE — Hand-arm vibration: Protect your workers
• HSE — Construction: Vibration health risks