Vibration
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Introduction
Vibration is a mechanical form of energy produced when an object moves back and forth repeatedly (i.e. oscillation). Vibration travels from an object such as a piece of equipment, hand tool, vehicle, and standing work surface into the body. Not all vibration is bad. It depends on:
- the magnitude (level) of vibration,
- the body area that it is exposed to (i.e. hands, feet, or whole body), and
- the amount of time you are exposed to vibration throughout the workday.
Health Risks
Vibration can cause damage to the nerves, blood vessels, and can increase the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (i.e. back pain). Each body region can tolerate different vibration frequencies. The frequencies which are known to increase risk of injury and MSD are called resonant frequencies.
Types of Vibration Exposures
Vibration can enter the body at any point where the body (i.e. hands, feet, or torso) is in contact with the vibrating surface. There are three main types of exposures, which are classified based on the body region that is in contact with the vibrating surface.
Hand-Arm Vibration
Hand-arm vibration is transmitted into the worker’s hands and arms through the palms and fingers, and can lead to MSD including hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).
Whole-Body Vibration
Whole-body vibration is transmitted into the worker's body while sitting in a vibrating vehicle or machinery. It can lead to MSD including low back pain, neck pain, and muscle fatigue. Guideline poster coming soon.
Foot-Transmitted Vibration
Foot-transmitted vibration is transmitted into the worker’s feet and legs by standing on a vibrating surface, and can lead to MSD. Guideline poster coming soon.
Vibration Poster: General
The first poster in the CRE-MSD and CROSH vibration poster series. View or download the poster resource to use in your organization.
Hand-Arm Vibration
Hand-arm vibration is transmitted into the worker's hands and arms through the palms and fingers, and can lead to MSD including hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). This typically happens by holding a vibrating tool, equipment, or piece of machinery.
Hand-Arm Vibration: Awareness (Exposures and Symptoms)
This poster is for workers and discusses common exposures in construction, manufacturing, mining, agriculture and forestry. It talks about the key symptoms and how they can be monitored, along with practical solutions for workers to prevent injury.
Hand-Arm Vibration: Management (Risk Assessment and Controls)
This poster is for stakeholders like supervisors, managers, and employers who are responsible for managing vibration exposure in the workplace. Stakeholders responsibilities in hazard identification and risk assessment are discussed along with possible controls that can be implemented in the workplace.
Standards
ISO Standard 5349-1:2001
Mechanical vibration — Measurement and evaluation of human exposure to hand-transmitted vibration
ACGIH Guidelines: Hand Arm Vibration
ANSI S2.70-2006
American National Standard Guide for the Measurement and Evaluation of Human Exposure to Vibration Transmitted to the Hand
EU Directive 2002/44/EC
Directive 2002/44/EC of 25 June 2002 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (vibration)
ISO 10819:2013
Mechanical vibration and shock — Hand-arm vibration — Measurement and evaluation of the vibration transmissibility of gloves at the palm of the hand
Related Resources
CROSH Webinar: Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) assessment and management
Presented by Dr. Aaron Thompson at CROSHCon 2025.
HSE Hand-Arm Vibration Calculator
Vibration workshop (2014) Recording: Controls for whole body and hand-arm vibration
CROSH Webinar: Occupational Vibration-Induced Injury and Disease
MLITSD - Hand arm vibration
Web page created by the Ontario Government; Learn how to prevent injuries caused by hand-arm vibration.
Whole Body Vibration
Whole body vibration is transmitted into the worker's body while sitting in a vibrating vehicle or machinery. It can lead to MSD including low back pain, neck pain, and muscle fatigue. Check back for the Guideline posters coming soon.
Standards
ISO 2631-1
Mechanical vibration and shock — Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration. Part 1: General requirements.
ISO 2631-5
Mechanical vibration and shock — Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration. Part 5: Method for evaluation of vibration containing multiple shocks.
Related Resources
Factors affecting operator exposure to whole-body vibration
CRE-MSD position paper authored by Wesley Killen and Tammy Eger.
Whole-body vibration: Overview of standards used to determine health risks
CRE-MSD position paper authored by Wesley Killen and Tammy Eger.
Whole-Body Vibration Exposure in the Workplace: Characteristics, Health Risks, Measurement and Control Strategies
A pdf slide deck of a webinar delivered by two researchers at Laurentian University (Dr. Tammy Eger and Wesley Killen) in 2017 on whole-body vibration.
Evaluating Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) Risk (CROSH)
Infographic showing how whole-body vibration is assessed in the workplace.
2024 CROSH Webinar: Occupational Vibration-Induced Injury and Disease
Webinar discusses whole body vibration as well as hand-arm and foot transmitted vibration.
Vibration Workshop (2014): Controls for Whole Body and Hand-Arm Vibration
Recording of a talk by Dr. Richard Wells - CRE-MSD, University of Waterloo, Dr. Tammy Eger - CROSH, Laurentian University, and Dr. Ron House - CREOD, University of Toronto February 25, 2014
CROSH Infographic: Health effects of whole body vibration
Chronic, long-term exposure to whole-body vibration is associated with a number of health effects, including: lower back pain, postural instability, shoulder pain, neck pain, noise-induced hearing loss, wrist/hand pain, and knee pain.
MLITSD Whole-body vibration
Web page created by the Ontario government; learn how to prevent injuries associated with exposure to whole-body vibration.
HSE Whole body vibration calculator
United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Whole body vibration calculator
Whole-body vibration exposure: textbook chapter
Author: Dr. Katie Goggins, 2024. Chapter 20 in the Mine Safety and Health Handbook: Approaches From the Field (pages 389-416).
Foot-Transmitted Vibration
Foot-transmitted vibration is transmitted into the worker’s feet and legs by standing on a vibrating surface, and can lead to MSD. Check back for the Guideline poster coming soon.
Related Resources
Foot-transmitted vibration exposure: textbook chapter
Author: Dr. Katie Goggins, 2024. Chapter 21 in the Mine Safety and Health Handbook: Approaches From the Field (pages 417-436).
CROSH Webinar: Occupational Vibration-Induced Injury and Disease
Biomechanical response of the human foot when standing in a natural position while exposed to vertical vibration from 10-200hz
Infographic showing results of a study about foot-transmitted vibration.
CROSH Webinar: Foot Transmitted Vibration exposure: Cognitive, biomechanical, and neurosensorial effects
This talk focusses on the effects of foot-transmitted vibrations on the whole body (while walking and during cognitive tasks) and localized in the toes (neurosensory response).
This section of the MSD Prevention Guideline was created in collaboration with the Center for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH). CROSH is a research center within the Ontario Health and Safety System based out of Laurentian University with expertise in occupational vibration exposure.