Have the new Vibration Regulations come into force yet? Have the HSE produced any guidance material?

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations were signed on 4th April and placed before parliament on 7 April 2005. They implement the Vibration Directive and came into force on 6 July 2005. They have been published and are accessible to the public on the HMSO Web site.

The HSE is in the process of publishing two new priced publications on the new regulations. The details are:

• L140: Hand-arm vibration: Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 ISBN: 0717661253 due to be published Autumn 2005 (price to be confirmed)
• L141: Whole-body vibration: Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 ISBN: 0717661261 due to be published Autumn 2005 (price to be confirmed)

There are also several free leaflets that are available immediately. These include:

• INDG175 Hand-arm vibration at work: A brief guide
• INDG296 Hand-arm vibration: Advice for employees (pocket card)
• INDG242 Control of back pain risk from whole body vibration advice for employers
• INDG404 Drive away bad backs, advice for mobile plant operators and drivers(pocket card)

Hard copies of the publications referred to above are available from HSE Books:

HSE Books
PO Box 1999,
Sudbury,
Suffolk, CO10 2WA.
Tel: 01787 881165
Fax: 01787 313995
Email: hsebooks@prolog.uk.com

There are three methods of payment currently available from HSE Books:

1. Via the post, bank cheques/ postal orders made payable to HSE Books
2. Via the telephone, American Express, Master Card or Visa
3. Existing approved credit account customers may use the Banks Automated Clearing System (BACS). However, new accounts are not being set up.

Many of the free publications can also be downloaded from the HSE Website: