HAVS exposure points calculator

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Add the tools used in a day with their trigger time and see the HSE exposure points, the A(8) equivalent, and how far you are from the action and limit values.

How HSE exposure points work

The HSE simplified the maths of hand-arm vibration into a points system. Each tool earns points per hour = 2 × (vibration ÷ 2.5)², so a 2.5 m/s² tool gives 2 points an hour, a 5 m/s² tool gives 8, and a 10 m/s² breaker gives 32. Add up the points for everything used in the day. 100 points is the exposure action value (2.5 m/s² A(8)); 400 points is the exposure limit value (5 m/s² A(8)). The tool above does the sum and converts back to an A(8) figure for your records.

What happens at each level

Above the action value you must reduce exposure as far as reasonably practicable, provide health surveillance, and train people about the risk. Above the limit value the work must stop until it can be replanned - there is no "with PPE" exception, because anti-vibration gloves do not reliably reduce exposure and are not accepted as a control. Below the action value there is still a duty to keep exposure as low as reasonably practicable, and to keep records so the trend is visible.

Trigger time is the number everyone gets wrong

Points are based on time the tool is actually vibrating in the hands, not time on the job. Studies of site work consistently find real trigger time is a third to a half of what operators estimate. Where exposure matters, measure it: a stopwatch on a typical task, or a tool-mounted timer, turns a guess into a figure you can defend.

Where the vibration figures come from

The values pre-filled here are typical in-use figures by tool type, in the range the HSE publishes. Manufacturers must declare a vibration value, but declared figures are measured under test conditions and can be well below what a worn tool with a blunt accessory produces on hard material. Use the declared figure as a floor, not a ceiling, and review it if the tool is old. Our COSHH guide covers the related dust exposures on the same tools.

FAQs

What is the HAVS exposure limit?

The exposure limit value is 5 m/s² A(8), equivalent to 400 HSE exposure points a day, and must not be exceeded. The exposure action value is 2.5 m/s² A(8), or 100 points, above which you must reduce exposure, provide health surveillance and train workers.

How long can you use a breaker before reaching the limit?

A heavy breaker at around 12 m/s² earns about 46 points an hour, so the action value is reached in a little over two hours and the limit value in about eight and a half hours of actual trigger time. Real trigger time is usually much less than time on the job.

Do anti-vibration gloves count as a control?

No. The HSE does not accept gloves as a means of reducing vibration exposure. They can keep hands warm, which helps circulation, but the exposure figures stay the same.

Do I need health surveillance for HAVS?

Yes if exposure is likely to reach the action value regularly, or if anyone is already showing symptoms. Health surveillance is arranged through an occupational health provider and usually starts with a questionnaire.

Get the documents ready-made

Record the exposure with a proper daily log and a HAVS risk assessment. The occupational health templates include a HAVS risk assessment, exposure record and health surveillance questionnaire, and the Plant and Machinery Pack covers the tools.

General guidance only. This article explains how the rules generally work in UK construction. It is not advice for your specific site, task or project, and it is not legal advice. Your own risk assessment, method statement and arrangements must be prepared and checked by a competent person for the actual work being done.