ABSTRACT
These Regulations came into force on 6 July 2005, implementing for Great Britain the Directive 2002/44/EC on exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (vibration). They apply both to hand–arm and whole-body vibration. The former occurs as a result of using hand-held power tools and is the cause of significant ill health, producing disorders of blood vessels, nerves, joints and muscles of the hands and arms that are known collectively as hand–arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Whole-body vibration affects those who ride in or on vehicles, especially over rough terrain, and is a factor in back pain.
