Worker protection begins with risk assessment. Workers performing tasks that involve continuous tool use for prolonged periods or the use of heavy duty hammers and picks are most at risk. To protect these workers it is recommended that you implement a workplan that involves some / all of the following measures as appropriate to the potential risk:

• Ensure workers are kept warm and dry, especially their hands and arms.
• Rotate workers performing tasks that involve above average vibration exposure such as concrete breaking.
• Choose good quality power tools that incorporate vibration reduction technologies. In doing so it is still important to consider the performance of the tool. Some power tools that advertise low vibration features will have lower performance and so your workers will take longer to perform their tasks. Using a tool that cuts vibration exposure by 50% but takes twice as long to perform the job will not lessen your worker's vibration exposure and may cost you in lost time and productivity. Consider Hitachi's range of UVP low vibration power tools as a good option that combine reduced vibration exposure to workers without compromising on performance.