Who is responsible for what?

As an employer, you are responsible for reducing the risks from vibration, just as you are responsible for all aspects of the work environment. You must be familiar with the Work Environment Act and other work environment regulations.

Employees and safety representatives are important for a good work environment

Employees and safety representatives have an important role in work environment management. As an employer, you must give all employees the opportunity to participate in work environment management. For example, as an employer, you can let employees suggest measures or provide feedback on measures you have implemented.

As an employer, you are responsible for ensuring that the provisions on vibration are followed. Among other things, this means that you must

• ensure that you have good work equipment
• inform and train the employees about the risks of vibration
• ensure that employees have received clear work routines and that they follow them
• ensure that employees have access to the information in user manual of the work equipment and that they follow it
• make clear why and how employees should report signs of vibration injuries, and how they can spot the signs
• Conduct regular checks to detect vibration injuries and deficiencies in the work environment.

As an employee, you must participate in work environment management by

• following the instructions, regulations and guidelines you receive
• using the work equipment in the right way
• participating in training about the risks of working with vibrating work equipment.

Everyone benefits from reducing vibration

The safer and healthier the work environment, the less risk there is of someone being injured. This reduces the risk that the company will suffer costs due to work absences and accidents. It also reduces the risk of employees being unable to work at full capacity.

Work to reduce exposure to vibration must be preventive and regular, just like all other work environment management. As an employer, you must therefore work systematically to meet the requirements of the Swedish Work Environment Authority's regulations on vibration and systematic work environment management.

Make sure you have good work equipment – it pays off

Good work equipment is equipment that does the job in the shortest possible time and vibrates as little as possible.

For you as an employer, it pays to think long-term when purchasing work equipment and accessories. You reduce the harmful health effects on employees and the work equipment and accessories will last longer.

Follow the manufacturer's recommendations regarding suitable accessories and service intervals, among other things. Also replace worn machine parts in your work equipment in proper time, such as shock absorbers, driver's seats, unbalanced drive shafts and spindles.

Tip for your next purchase: buy work equipment with a lower vibration value just as powerful as the one you had before. This allows you to extend the usage time without exceeding the previous vibration exposure.

Read more about vibration exposure values here:

Vibration

Use work equipment correctly, so as to reduce vibration

For employees, it is important to use work equipment correctly in order to reduce vibration. This reduces the risk of injury and makes you feel better. Therefore, follow both the working routines that apply at your workplace and the manufacturer's recommendations in the work equipment's safety instructions.

One tip is to “let the machine do the job”, that is, do not press too hard against the working piece or ground surface. As a vehicle or machine driver, you can, for example, influence your vibration exposure by driving slowly, avoiding shocks and jolts, and choosing a road with a smoother surface. It is also important that you take regular breaks, which can reduce the risk of muscle tension and numbness.

Provide information and training about the risks

As an employer, you are obliged to ensure that employees who use vibrating work equipment receive information and training about the risks that may arise. Therefore, ensure that employees have knowledge about, among other things

• what vibration risk assessments you have carried out and how the results will affect work with vibrating work equipment
• what vibration exposure values apply according to the regulations and the implication of the exposure values
• what work routines employees shall follow to minimise vibration exposure
• which vibration is harmful and what the health risks are
• why and how every single employee shall report signs of vibration injuries
• when employees are entitled to medical check-ups and the purpose of these.

Perform regular checks to detect vibration injuries

There is no precise limit for when exposure to vibration is harmful. It is therefore important that you as an employer regularly investigate whether your employees have any problems that may be due to their use of vibrating work equipment.