Operatives receive specialist vibration training

Equans staff receive training from vibration safety specialists, HAVi, to increase their awareness and understanding of dangerous situations involving hand and arm vibrations and their damaging effects.

With the size and scale of the scheme and multiple vibration works, including chiselling, drilling, chasing etc. preventing HAVS is of paramount importance and Equans is always seeking out innovations, new technologies, and best practice systems within the industry which can support our commitments of putting safety first.

SHEQ Advisor for Equans, Simon Hillman recently spoke with Site Manager, Joshua Peach, about the need for operatives to receive training on how to recognise, manage and minimise the risks directly associated with works that involve vibration and could cause HAVS and agreed to arrange for specialists, HAVi, to attend site to deliver training to operatives on site. HAVi are the UK's leading specialist in providing solutions to help contractors comply with HSE guidelines for managing Hand Arm Vibration Sydrome (HAVS).

On 4th November, Joshua and Simon were joined by Managing Director, Gregg Cole, and Technical Manager, Joel Clarke, from HAVi, to deliver specialist HAVS training to site operatives.

Joel spent the morning speaking about the dangers and risks of hand and arm vibration, demonstrating the long term effects of HAVS and how to minimise these effects. He also spoke about practical tips that could be used in every day tasks and the importance of identifying the symptoms of HAVS and reporting symptoms.

"The welfare of our workforce is crucial and it was great to have the guys from HAVi in today. The session was really informative and our operatives will definitely be thinking more about how to reduce their exposure to vibration. The practical demonstration of trying to undertake a simple every day task such as tying a shoelace with goalie gloves to give an example of having HAVS was particularly interesting. This training is a great example of the measures Equans takes to protect it's workforce and prevent potentially life-long conditions or injuries." Joshua Peach, Site Manager, Equans