Workplace Vibration: Health Hazards, Measurement Protocol, and Controls

Recorded on February 3, 2021

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Workplace Vibration: Health Hazards, Measurement Protocol, and Controls

About the Webinar:

In the United States, an estimated 1.45 million workers use vibrating tools. Workers who use high vibrating power tools regularly are at risk of nerve damage and restricted blood flow to the hand and fingers, also known as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). HAVS-related health problems include peripheral vascular and peripheral neural disorders of the fingers and hands, Vibration White Finger, and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The prevalence of HAVS in worker populations that use vibrating tools ranges from 6% to 100%, with an average of 50%. This webinar will explore how to recognize, measure, and implement control measures to reduce vibration exposure.

Learning Objectives

  1. Recognize Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) and Whole Body Vibration (WBV) in the workplace
  2. Identify signs and symptoms of HAVS and potential effects of vibration exposure
  3. Measure vibration acceleration level, and in combination with duration of exposure, identify vibration risk in the development of health issues
  4. Implement control measures to reduce vibration exposure

Instructor: Michael Strange, CIH

Michael Strange, CIH, began his career as an analytical chemist at Firemans Fund Environmental Laboratory. Then he worked as a field industrial hygienist under the direction of a certified industrial hygienist (CIH) for the FPE Group (a fire protection engineering firm), before coming a CIH himself in 1990. He evaluates airborne chemical hazards, noise, radiation, vibration, and heat stress exposures to workers, as well as indoor air quality in office environments, manufacturing facilities, chemical / pharmaceutical, medical facilities, agriculture, hospitality, agriculture, construction, office buildings, among other environments. Currently, he is a Principal Consultant for Chubb Global Risk Advisors assigned to the Pacific Northwest; however, he regularly practices internationally, with experience in Australia, Europe, North Africa, Canada, and Mexico.