Tarmac's use of Real-time Hand-Arm Vibration system set to revolutionise industry
An innovative system which will provide critical 'live' data on tool operators' daily exposure rates to Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) is set to rolled-out across the UK by Tarmac's National Contracting division.
Developed by Tarmac and Reactec, an Edinburgh-based consultancy specialising in noise and vibration, the HAVmeter is the first device in the UK to calculate and record cumulative vibration information across all vibratory tools used by an operator throughout the working day.
The device works by providing visual warnings to the operator when they are reaching prescribed maximum daily exposure levels. This system will further increase the accuracy of Tarmac's health and safety data, as well as eliminating the need for operators to complete daily paper-based records of vibration levels.
The national roll-out, which will ensure the device is used by over 1,000 Tarmac employees nationwide, follows a two-year collaboration between the two companies and extensive on-site testing of the system.
The system features four main components: colour-coded tool tag on each piece of equipment, a magnetic swipe card for each operator and a base station within the team's crewbus, which will incorporate up to eight individual HAVmeters.
Each tool is allocated a tag - colour coded green, orange or red - to signify the general level of vibration produced and the recommended safe daily dosage.
Using a personal swipe card, each operator will sign-out a HAVmeter from the base station that attaches magnetically to the tool tag on the equipment. Information held within the tag - tool manufacturer, model, unique ID, average tool vibration level - is automatically uploaded into the HAVmeter.
At the end of the working day, the HAVmeter is returned to the base station where the unit is recharged and the vibration data automatically saved to the station's internal memory. Information is then downloaded onto Tarmac's Health and Safety database, where operator exposure records and HAV trends are analysed.
Commenting on the development of the new system and the need to improve reporting standards, Paul Fleetham, director of Tarmac National Contracting said: “The collaboration with Reactec demonstrates Tarmac's total commitment to the health and safety of the workforce. We are proud to have contributed to the development of this groundbreaking technology and also to be the first UK company to benefit from its pioneering approach. The HAVmeter system will enable us to provide even greater protection to our employees and this innovative design will set the standard for addressing the problem of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome.
'Critically, this new technology will deliver real-time information on individual exposure rates and will closely monitor the health and welfare of our people" adds Fleetham.
Reactec managing director, Mark-Paul Buckingham, said: "We are delighted to be working with Tarmac to supply HAVmeters for its workforce nationwide; this is another example of Tarmac's commitment to the wellbeing of its employees. We have invested heavily to develop the device with the market, ensuring that the system is both easy to implement and use in day-to-day operations. Tarmac has tested the HAVmeter extensively throughout the development, allowing Reactec to launch this market ready electronic based device. We believe that the complete data and asset records produced will be of value across the whole company".
Current HSE guidance has set an Exposure Action Level (EAV) of 2.5ms²
equivalent to 100 points, or a daily Exposure Limit Value (ELV) of 5.0ms²
at 400 points.
See Tarmac National Contracting for details of our services
and also Tarmac's Report to Society for a related case study
www.ljmu.ac.uk/blt/peat/index.htm
For further information please Contact PR.
28 May 2008
