scope:

This standard specifies the recommended method for the measurement, data analysis and evaluation, vibration and health risk assessments, and reporting of hand-transmitted vibration exposure. The methods specified in this standard are to be used to characterize and evaluate vibration impinging on the hands of humans and to give guidance on assessing the potential for this vibration to result in pathology related to hand-arm vibration exposure among the users of hand-held percussive or vibrating devices, tools, and work pieces. Factors, such as grip and push forces applied to tool handles, orientation of the hands and tool relative to a specific work piece, and intermittency of vibration exposure that can affect one's exposure to hand-transmitted vibration are not addressed in this standard.

Prolonged excessive exposure to hand-transmitted vibration may result in adverse health effect, such as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and other conditions of the upper extremities, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. For the purpose of this standard, hand-arm vibration syndrome is defined as the complex of peripheral vascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal disorders of the hand and arm that are associated with industrial exposure to hand-transmitted vibration.

This standard is intended as a guide for the measurement, data analysis and evaluation, vibration and health risk assessments, and reporting of human exposure to vibration transmitted to the hands, with a view toward reducing the potential for the occurrence of pathology related to hand-arm vibration exposure among the users of hand-held percussive or vibrating devices, tools, and work pieces.

The methods of measurement, data analysis, evaluation, assessments, and reporting apply to periodic or random hand-transmitted vibration in three mutually orthogonal axes in the frequency range from 5.6 Hz to 1,400 Hz. The information presented in this standard applies only to vibration exposure from hand-held devices, tools, and work pieces used in industrial work processes that involve the use of hand-held devices, tools, and work pieces.