Regular long term exposure to WBV is associated with back pain alongside other factors such as poor posture and heavy lifting

Look out for WBV risks where any commercial/industrial/construction vehicles are driven regularly for most of the day

Controlling the risks

The risks can be controlled by good management - guidance is available

How exposure occurs

Vibration transmitted through the seat or feet (known as whole-body vibration or WBV).

Drivers of some mobile machines, including certain tractors, fork lift trucks and quarrying or earth-moving machinery, may be exposed to WBV and shocks, which are associated with back pain. Other work factors, such as posture and heavy lifting, are also known to contribute to back problems for drivers and the relative importance of WBV is not clear at present.

Whole-body Vibration - Research

HSE plan to publish data to help employers assess vibration exposure under the new Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 and are collaborating with Employers associations to commission and publish research on WBV.

We published research on agricultural vehicles in 2005 and the link to this report is shown below.

• Whole-body vibration in agricultural vehicles

We also published the research reports from phase I of our Generic Whole body vibration research (RR377 and RR400) in 2005 and they are listed below:

Whole-body vibration on Construction, Mining and Quarrying vehicles

• Evaluation of whole-body vibration emission and estimated exposure levels - Prepared by Silsoe Research Institute
• Evaluation of whole-body vibration exposures in British industry - Prepared by the University of Southampton

The data from these reports will be used to prepare generic WBV risk assessments, in the form of data sheets, which should become available on our web pages in late 2007.