Today’s aims • Provide overview of the review of vibration management • Explain the approach taken • Advice from HSE • Introduce our new risk assessment process Footer text 9/9/2019 1
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome is our most serious occupational health risk. In its most advanced stages it causes permanent and potentially life changing ill-health. But this can be prevented, and the systems and procedures you’ll see today will help ensure none of our colleagues suffer permanent damage from vibration in the future. These new systems will involve some changes to how we currently work, and needs contributions from everyone involved in the use of vibrating tools. However, implementing these changes is a priority for all the Executive Team and our CEO Simon Hodgson. I am certain that with your commitment, and the hard work of everyone involved, we can make these improvements and become industry leaders in preventing Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome. Trefor Owen (Head of Land Management)
Control of Vibration at Work Regulations (2005) • (5) Risk Assessment • (6) Eliminate or control exposure at the workplace • (7) Health Surveillance • (8) Information Training and Instruction Footer text 9/9/2019 3
Introduction & background • Visits in 2010 and 2015 highlighted issues in a number of areas relating to HAVS which were addressed. • Visit in February 2018 triggered by tier escalations (RIDDOR reportable). 09/09/2019 HAVS Workshops 4
09/09/2019 HAVS Workshops 5
Introduction & background • Summary of material breaches: 1. Failure to adequately assess the risk presented to staff by the use of vibrating tools for grass cutting in Knapdale. 2. Inadequate approach to eliminating or controlling vibration risk through work planning, tool selection etc. 3. Failures in central FC health surveillance process. 4. Poor provision of information and training relating to HAVS. 09/09/2019 HAVS Workshops 6
Introduction & background • FES response to HSE notice: 1. FES Health and Safety team came to West Argyll FD and worked with the team involved to establish a new process/approach for HAVS. 2. HAVS project set up to address national issues. 3. Implementation of corrective actions is time bound by HSE improvement notice. 09/09/2019 HAVS Workshops 7
Key Issues • Comply with HSE • Identify root causes / key issues to be addressed • Present a holistic approach to vibration management • Realistic approach to implementing change Footer text 9/9/2019 8
Planning Delivery Equipment Training Training Monitoring Occupational Health
Key Improvements • Proactive not retrospective. • More emphasis on design and planning. • Become operation focussed (multi-tool use). • Reduce exposure AFARP and below EAV where possible. • Better guidance for staff • Improve understanding across business • Improve OH surveillance programme. • Protect at risk individuals protected. • Other risk control factors. Footer text 9/9/2019 10
Control through planning and design Key Issues – Why are we using vibrating tools? – Can we reduce or eliminate through planning? – New facilities to be designed to eliminate or reduce exposure risks – Report reductions in vibrating tools use Footer text 9/9/2019 11
Work planning • Role of Visitor Services managers • Senior management ‘buy-in’ • Options for reductions • Benefits of reduction • Manager’s competence • Provide annual reports on reductions Footer text 9/9/2019 12
Landscape architects • Design new visitor facilities • Consider vibration within PD role • Reduce need for maintenance • Guidance • Workshop October 2018 Footer text 9/9/2019 13
Tool Selection and Provision Understanding our responsibilities • How to select and maintain tools • Set up Machinery Working Group with internal stakeholders MES Users Managers H,S&W Team Supported by HSE • Existing tools (trigger time studies) • Proactive market surveillance / testing • Compliance with maintenance procedures • Annual Reports • Footer text 9/9/2019 14
Information, Instruction and Training • Targeted training focussed on role • Modular not sheep-dip • Integrated into process • Consolidated through practice • Provided centrally and by managers supported by H,S&W and L&D where appropriate. Footer text 9/9/2019 15
New Processes • New Risk Assessment Process • New approach to training information and instruction • New SOP • Machinery Working Group • New responsibilities for decision makers • OH surveillance under HS&W control • PVMP implemented / reviewed • Annual Vibration Management Event • Annual Report to CEO Footer text 9/9/2019 16
The new approach • West Argyll and Lochaber FDs will trial & help develop the new approach to ‘whole job’ vibration risk assessment. • This process will need to evolve as we use it, in order to capture different types of work involving vibrating tools or equipment. 09/09/2019 HAVS Workshops 17
The new approach • ‘Whole job’ HAVS assessment – Previous approach, while compliant with OGB38, assessed the risk from each tool and didn’t consider the aggregate exposure for the whole job. It was also retrospective in that the monitoring process used as a control measure was ‘after the fact’. – Important to note that we have not necessarily been exposing staff to excessive vibration. 09/09/2019 HAVS Workshops 18
The new approach Job Vibration Exposure Assessment 09/09/2019 Footer text 19
The new approach 09/09/2019 Footer text 20
The new approach HAVS risk assessment • Site/job specific. • Informed by vibration exposure assessment. • Needs to contain details of the appropriate control methods which have been chosen to reduce the HAVS risk to as low as reasonably practical. • Like any risk assessment, it must also detail roles and responsibilities with named individuals. 09/09/2019 Footer text 21
Any Questions? 22
Health Surveillance
Health Surveillance • System to detect ill-health at an early stage and act on results • All staff likely to be exposed to the EAV (above 80 points for 2 days a week) • Existing diagnosis and exposure Footer text 9/9/2019 24
Tiers of surveillance • 1 Baseline questionnaire – new start or new to vibrating tools • 2 Annual questionnaire • 3 Assessment by qualified nurse (if at risk or every three years) • 4 Referral to Occupational Health Physician • 5 Optional referral for more tests Footer text 9/9/2019 25
Possible Diagnosis Fit for work • Stage 1 – intermittent numbness / tingling • Stage 2 (early) – intermittent numbness/ tingling with reduced sensory • perception Stage 2 (late) – persistent numbness/tingling and reduced sensory • perception Stage 3 – constant numbness/tingling and reduced manipulative • dexterity in warmth Footer text 9/9/2019 26
What information should you receive? • Fitness to work • Health Report – details of diagnosis and recommendations on action – Reducing exposure – Increase frequency of checks – Other measures Footer text 9/9/2019 27
Personal Vibration Management Plans • Health surveillance advice must acted on quickly • Staff who are shown to be at greater risk from HAVs or CTS must have a personal vibration management plan put in place. • These describe additional control measures needed to effectively protect the employee. Footer text 9/9/2019 28
PVMP Footer text 9/9/2019 29
Other Actions • Extra support for Tier 1 Surveillance • RA and exposure data provided to OH provided where necessary • PVMP developed follow employees as they move • Incident of HAVS RIDDOR reported. • Incidents investigated including risk assessment reviewed • Lessons learned shared locally and nationally • Group anonymised data used at organisational level Footer text 9/9/2019 30
9/9/2019 Footer text 31
Any Questions? 32
Next Steps
Footer text 9/9/2019 34
SOP • Reduced from ~ 35 pages to 12 • New responsibilities for ET/senior management • New responsibilities to eliminate and reduce Footer text 9/9/2019 35
Forest Enterprise Scotland An agency of the Forestry Commission managing the National Forest Estate Hand-arm vibration Standard Operating Procedure
Recommend
More recommend
