Picking up bad vibrations
October 1st 2005 British industry and workers could face crippling consequences - both physical and financial - due to widespread ignorance of how to manage and reduce vibration. Brendan Coyne reports
According to vibration control specialist, Reactec, the complexity and variables involved mean many companies are unaware their employees may be exceeding acceptable vibration levels on a daily basis.
With up to 5 million UK workers exposed to vibration (and debilitating diseases such as Vibration White Finger taking only months to manifest themselves in some cases), the only party to benefit from the situation will be lawyers.
While the Health and Safety Executive introduced new vibration legislation in July, HSE spokesperson Jonathan Mason says that for the present, companies are unlikely to be fined by the Executive provided they are actively seeking to reduce employee exposure to vibration.
Mason says the legislation will be strictly enforced by 2010. Recognising the urgent need for education, the HSE has recently kicked off a series of roadshows to demonstrate the necessary measures to employers.
However, employees who’s livelihoods have been destroyed by vibrations’ side effects are likely to look less kindly on the fact their former employer is now simply ‘making an effort’: The adverse effects of vibration have been known about for decades. Individual compensation claims are regularly six figure sums and there are thought to be around a million workers in the UK exposed to vibration over the HSE action limit.
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Based on the companies it has approached, Reactec believes as little as five percent of UK firms are prepared for the impact of the new regulations. "There are some organisations which understand the issues involved, but they are few and far between," says MD Mark-Paul Buckingham. "The majority that we come across either know they are unprepared or don’t really know about the legislation at all."
According to Buckingham it is the complexity of the issue which prevents companies from taking positive steps. "They understand the reasons for legislation: to prevent people from getting damaged. But in terms of measurement techniques, equipment variables and understanding it from a vibration perspective, it’s a tricky area to deal with. So even if companies are aware of the problem - and want to do something about it - many still aren’t sure how to proceed."
Naturally, Buckingham says this is where Reactec comes in.
Spun out of Edinburgh University four years ago, the company works with and for some of the largest OEMs in the semiconductor, marine and power tool sector. It is now launching a "complete vibration tool kit" to help companies meet current and future legislation.
"Effectively what Reactec can do in terms of the legislation is translate to someone the specific tasks they perform within their organisation and offer them the easiest solution," says Buckingham. "Our core skills lie in the analysis field but we are taking that much further - we actually solve vibration issues for companies rather than simply analyse their processes. We have a range of solutions that run from passive or rubber-based systems up to the novel smart material-based systems (active systems which continuously monitor equipment to determine vibration output and then compensate for it)."
However, while Reactec’s technology is now being implemented within OEM products, the company is equally able to visit any employer and work out a solution: "If, for example, they are performing routine maintenance - we can give them a device which, with a little training, they will be able to use to monitor their processes and reduce risk of over exposure," says Buckingham.
"Fundamentally our expertise is vibration and we have a solution for anything vibration related."
Bulletin
Reactec provides vibration control systems ranging from simple passive vibration isolation to sophisticated electronic vibration control. Its services include:
Vibration measurement and analysis Vibration benchmarking equipment Quick and effective solutions to vibration problems Long term projects involving critical design modifications, implementing the latest technology and participating in R&D
The company also specialises in lowfrequency vibration control
Further information is available from:
Tim Kent, Commercial Director, Reactec.
Tel: 0131 472 4806
e: tim@reactec.com
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