Vibration regulations look shaky

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 have now come into force, requiring employers for the first time to take specific action in order to reduce the risks to health from vibration.

However, unions are unhappy with the regulations, details of which are set out in our health and safety annual review elsewhere in this issue. The TUC has accused the Health and Safety Commission of "watering down" the original European directive that the regulations are implementing.

And the transition period included in the regulations, which will allow employers to carry on using older vibration-causing tools for nearly 10 years in some cases, has been described by the T&G general union as "disgraceful".