Minutes of the 6th Construction Hand-arm Vibration Working Group Meeting, HAE, Birmingham, 17/11/06

Attendees: Phil Burgess (HSE), Hans Fairley (Stihl, AEA), Peter Alford (JCB), Ulrich Betten (Hilti), David Smeatham (HSE), Rob Caddy (Belle Group), Tony Coleman (Makita), Terrance Libby (ATA Grinding), Peter Holdridge (Complete Hire Services), John Shaw (MACOB Holdings Limited), Kevin Minton (Hire Association of Europe).

The meeting was based around an agenda circulated prior to the meeting.

1. Welcome

   Meeting opened and attendees were welcomed.

2. Minutes of meeting held on 29th September 2006

   Ulrich Betten (Hilti) commented that he wanted the last bullet point under section 8 of the minutes changing from:

   • Demo hammers and Combi hammers. UB presented data, which compared the old EN 60745 standard with the new standard EN 20643 designed to produce the upper quartile vibration.

   to:

   • Demo hammers and Combi hammers. UB presented data, which showed the status of the standardization process for the revision of EN 60745 regarding test codes for several tool categories to produce the upper quartile vibration.

   Other than this the minutes were accepted.

3. Current situation

   The group discussed the current situation regarding the supply of vibration information to end-users and other initiatives. The original aims of this system presented at the Forum last November were stated. These aims were that the system should be open to all and suitable for the industry. HSE stated that it did not want to “cut across” other initiatives and it was committed to producing a systems that was robust, consistent, within the legal framework (Machinery Directive) and provided information to help end-users manage the risks from hand-arm vibration on construction sites. It was reported that the working group continues to have the support of all the key stakeholders. However, the group did acknowledge that ideally there would be just one system being promoted in the industry. The group discussed the difference between the OPERC initiative and the system being developed by the Working Group. It was decided that the Working Group needed to satisfy MCG and other end-user stakeholders that the proposed system is going to aid the management of hand-arm vibration on construction sites. A briefing note is being prepared to communicate the progress of the group to the industry. This will be circulated to Working Group members for dissemination and will be provided to trade press.

4. Plan

   The group plan to launch the system in Spring 2007. A plan of activity and time scale was presented to enable this. This plan is attached to the minutes.

5. System overview

   The following issues were discussed:

   • Data verification: As agreed during the previous meeting, respective trade associations will compile the agreed vibration data from their members (e.g. BCAS, EPTA, AEA) and use their surveillance information to verify the data. Verified data will then be sent to HAE to be included onto the database. A system will be developed for tool manufacturers/distributors who are not members of these trade associations where tools are referred to the relevant trade association for verification.
   • Branding and data presentation. The Group discussed changing the brand of the system away from the “traffic light system” to avoid confusion. Peter Holdridge presented a system he uses to help end-users manage the risk (inc as separate attachment to minutes). Methods of presenting the data were discussed and are going to be further developed by a smaller working group. It was agreed that the system should provide an indication of the relative risk from tools (e.g. green, amber, red or similar) and also HSE points per 15 minutes to aid the management of multiple tool use.
   • Content. The outcome of discussions during the previous meeting regarding the information to be included in the system was presented.

     Possible colour	Points per Hour
     Green	0 - 12
     Amber	13 – 49
     Blue	50 – 99
     Purple	100 - 199
     Red	200 or greater

     GUIDANCE (who to)	INFORMATION WITH TOOL
     Is this the right tool?	Limitations
     How long	Category in which tool falls
     Other risks	Symptoms of HAVS
     Health surveillance	How to use the tool
     Training	Performance (what affects its out put)
     PPE	Other info Noise,weight
     Air pressure/voltage etc	Fuel
     	Source of information

   • Finance. The group suggested that a separate launch for this system would not be necessary and that on an agreed date the industry could advertise nationally in the trade press and use the system from then on.
     PB agreed to ask for advice from communication experts within the HSE
   • Promotion. The Group will start to promote the system next year at SED and the EHN trade fair.
6. Actions against the plan

   It was agreed that the following groups/individuals would carryout the following work and with a view to present drafts at the next meeting on 9th January 2007.

   • Provide initial database information in the agreed format.
     • BCAS, EPTA, AEA
   • Call for vibration information in the agreed format to go in trade press for manufactures / distributors not members of the trade associations above.
     • HSE (P Burgess and D Smeatham)
   • Guidance on methods of eliminating hand-arm vibration in the construction industry.
     • D Smeatham
   • Guidance on tool selection
     • Tool manufacturers group
   • Guidance on risk assessment and tool management
     • Phil Burgess and Peter Houldridge
   • Guidance on health surveillance
     • HSE
   • Tools for Information, Instruction and Training
     • Kevin Minton to review current HAE guidance
   • Produce a verification procedure
     • Tool manufacturers group
   • System branding
     • Phil Burgess to seek advice from within HSE
7. Date of next meeting

   9th January at HSE offices in Rose Court, London.

8. Close

   Thanks were expressed to the group for a very positive meeting, Peter Holdridge from Complete Hire Services for his presentation and to the Hire Association of Europe for their hospitality.