On-site HAV testing
Calibrated vibration measurement of every handheld power tool in your workshop, recorded to BS EN ISO 5349-2:2002 — with the summaries and certificates your risk assessment needs.
What happens on site
- Every handheld power tool — sanders, grinders, polishers, drills, disc cutters and more — is measured in use with calibrated vibration instruments.
- Each tool is individually identified, so readings map to real equipment, not a generic model figure.
- Tools outside safe limits are flagged on the spot, with a clear recommendation: repair, restrict or retire.
- Testing fits around a working workshop — most sites are completed in a single visit with minimal disruption.
We also advise on tool condition and accessories while we’re there — unbalanced backing pads and worn abrasives are among the most common, and cheapest, causes of excess vibration.
SM-2026-041
| Tool ID | Tool | m/s² | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| DA-0117 | DA sander | 2.4 | PASS |
| AG-0093 | Angle grinder | 3.8 | ACTION |
| PB-0031 | Polisher | 1.9 | PASS |
| DG-0054 | Die grinder | 5.6 | RETIRE |
| RW-0142 | Ratchet wrench | 2.2 | PASS |
What your H&S file receives after every visit — per-tool data behind it in the portal.
Your duties under the 2005 Regulations
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 place specific duties on employers whose staff regularly use vibrating hand tools. In practice, compliance rests on three things: knowing your exposure, controlling it, and being able to prove both.
Assess
Establish the real vibration levels of the tools in use — measured, not assumed — and the daily exposure of the people using them.
Control
Reduce exposure where the action value is reached: maintain or replace high-vibration tools, fit correct accessories, change working methods, train operators.
Monitor
Keep health surveillance in place for exposed workers, and act quickly — including closer monitoring of tool usage — where any operator shows early symptoms.
Exposure action value 2.5 m/s² A(8) · exposure limit value 5.0 m/s² A(8).
| Daily exposure — A(8) | What the law requires |
|---|---|
| 2.5 m/s² — action value | You must act to reduce exposure and provide health surveillance. |
| 5.0 m/s² — limit value | Exposure above this level must not be permitted. |
Full guidance, including symptom identification for vibration white finger, is published by the HSE at hse.gov.uk/vibration.
Six ways to cut vibration exposure
Testing tells you where you stand. These are the measures we most often recommend to bring readings — and exposure — down.
- Maintain tools properly. Well-serviced tools run efficiently and vibrate less.
- Buy low-vibration designs. Factor vibration data into every new tool purchase.
- Fit the right accessories. Correctly balanced backing pads and abrasive wheels are essential to keeping vibration low.
- Change the process where possible. Coated abrasives, for example, can replace some grinding operations at a fraction of the vibration.
- Clamp the workpiece. An unsupported panel resonates — and the operator absorbs it.
- Train operators in best practice. Years of habit are not the same as using a tool the way its manufacturer intended.
Simple pricing, scaled to your tool count
One inclusive fee covers testing, travel and expenses for smaller sites, with a straightforward per-tool rate beyond that and site-specific quotations for large workshops. Multi-site dealer-group programmes are priced per group — tell us your sites and we’ll put a plan together.