If your employees regularly use vibrating power tools, an on-site HAVS test can provide practical data on vibrations to support your risk assessment and help you manage exposure.
During a visit by our experts, relevant tools are assessed using calibrated vibration testing equipment, the results are recorded and a certificate is produced for each tool tested. At Principal Power Tools, we can also create a log of your tools, giving you a clear record of the equipment assessed and its data on vibrations.
What happens during an on-site HAVS test?
An on-site HAVS test measures the vibration magnitude produced by tools under representative working conditions. The aim is to obtain useful data for the equipment your workforce actually uses, rather than relying only on figures that may not reflect the tool, task or condition of the equipment.
At Principal Power Tools, we carry out on-site hand arm vibration testing for pneumatic and electric tools across a wide range of industries. Our technicians use fully calibrated testing equipment to assess individual tools and record their results.
It is important to note that this type of HAVS testing assesses the vibration of tools; it does not diagnose Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome in an employee. Health surveillance is a separate part of managing hand-arm vibration risk.
Why is HAVS testing important?
Regular exposure to vibrations can contribute to Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms can include tingling, numbness, reduced strength for gripping and vibration white finger (VWF), and the effects can become permanent.
Employers have a duty to assess and control risks from hand-arm vibration. Reliable vibration magnitude data can help inform a vibration risk assessment, estimate employee exposure and identify where additional controls may be needed.
Measuring workplace vibrations are not required in every situation. HSE guidance explains that measurements are needed when suitable vibration data cannot be obtained from other sources. On-site tool vibration testing can therefore be valuable where representative information is needed for specific tools, tasks or working conditions.
The on-site testing process
Before testing begins, we establish which tools need to be assessed and organise the work around your site and tool inventory. Each tool is individually identified so its results can be traced back to the correct piece of equipment.
Using specialist Hand Arm Vibration Monitoring Equipment and vibration measurement equipment, our technicians take measurements to establish the vibration magnitude associated with the tool in use. Tool condition, the task, the material being worked on and operator technique can all affect vibration measurements, making competent testing and representative conditions important.
For businesses using pneumatic tools, grinders, sanders, impact wrenches or other vibrating equipment, this can provide a clearer picture of vibration levels across the tool inventory.
What happens after each tool is tested?
Testing is only one part of the service. Once a tool has been vibration tested, we issue an individual certificate recording the test. Equipment can also be assigned a unique identification reference to improve traceability.
We then create a tool log for the customer, bringing the test results together in a structured record. This makes the information easier to manage and provides useful data for internal HAVS management and vibration risk assessments.
Having an organised record of your tool vibration testing can also make it easier to review equipment over time and identify where further investigation, maintenance or alternative lower-vibration tools may need to be considered.
What affects the cost of HAVS testing?
The cost of on-site HAVS testing depends on the scale of the job and the work required to test and document the equipment properly.
One of the main factors is the number of tools requiring testing. A smaller quantity may be completed in one day, while a larger inventory can require several days or, in some cases, a week of testing. The technician time needed on site therefore contributes to the overall cost.
Travel time to your chosen testing location is another factor. There is also work after the physical testing, including creating an individual vibration certificate for every tool and compiling the customer’s tool log.
This means the cost of HAVS testing can vary considerably between businesses. A company with a small number of tools at a nearby site will naturally have different requirements from a large operation with hundreds of tools requiring several days of testing.
Rather than simply paying for vibration readings, customers receive a documented and traceable record of the tools tested and their results.
HAVS monitoring and ongoing exposure management
Measurement data is one part of effective HAVS management. Businesses may also use tool timers, data loggers or other HAVS monitoring equipment to help estimate how long employees are exposed to vibration.
Monitoring exposure and measuring vibrations are not the same thing. Monitoring how long someone uses a tool does not establish the tool’s vibration magnitude. Both vibration level and exposure duration are relevant when assessing daily exposure. HSE similarly advises employers not to confuse electronic monitoring systems with vibration measurement systems.
Arrange on-site HAVS testing with Principal Power Tools
At Principal Power Tools, we have decades of experience supplying, repairing and vibration testing power tools, with particular expertise in pneumatic equipment. Our on-site HAVS testing service provides practical vibration data, individual tool certificates and a clear tool log to support effective vibration risk management.
Whether you have a small number of tools or a large site-wide inventory, contact us with your approximate quantity of tools and location for testing.
We can assess the scope of the work and provide a quotation based on the testing time, travel and documentation required.