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HAVS Calculator

Hand-arm vibration exposure calculator

Hand-arm vibration is the vibration that is transmitted into the hands and arms when using power tools such as drills and sanders. Frequent exposure to hand-arm vibration is dangerous and can lead to permanent damage to the blood vessels, nerves and joints in the hands and arms. This damage, and the injuries it causes, is known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) or vibration white finger.

In order to manage exposure to vibration in the workplace, there are regulations in place that set out the maximum amount of vibration an employee can be exposed to in a single day and the point at which additional measures to control vibration are required. These are known as:

  • The daily exposure limit value (ELV) which, for hand-arm vibration, is 5 m/s² A(8).
  • The daily exposure action value (EAV) which, for hand-arm vibration, is 2.5m/s² A(8).

Hand Arm Vibration Calculator

We have created a useful calculator that you can use to work out an employee’s daily vibration exposure.

Tool 1
Tool 2
Tool 3
Tool 4
Tool 5

Daily exposure in m/s² A(8):
Total exposure points:

How to Use the Hand Arm Vibration (HAV) Calculator

Simply put the name of the tool in the first box, the magnitude of the tool in m/s² in the second box (which will be provided by the tool’s manufacturer) and the time it will be used in hours in the final box. Do this for all of the tools an employee will use in a single day, click ‘submit’ and the calculator will show you their daily vibration exposure and where it falls between the exposure limit and exposure action values.

Further information on vibration, HAVS and exposure values is covered in this dedicated HAVS article and our vibration awareness training course:

Vibration Awareness book cover

Vibration Awareness training course

<script> function calculateVal() { var mag1 = document.getElementById("firstMagnitude").value; var mag2 = document.getElementById("secondMagnitude").value; var mag3 = document.getElementById("thirdMagnitude").value; var mag4 = document.getElementById("fourthMagnitude").value; var mag5 = document.getElementById("fifthMagnitude").value; var time1 = document.getElementById("firstTime").value; var time2 = document.getElementById("secondTime").value; var time3 = document.getElementById("thirdTime").value; var time4 = document.getElementById("fourthTime").value; var time5 = document.getElementById("fifthTime").value; var msexp = ((((mag1 * ((time1 / 8) ** 0.5)) ** 2) + ((mag2 * ((time2 / 8) ** 0.5)) ** 2) + ((mag3 * ((time3 / 8) ** 0.5)) ** 2) + ((mag4 * ((time4 / 8) ** 0.5)) ** 2) + ((mag5 * ((time5 / 8) ** 0.5)) ** 2)) ** 0.5); var pexp = (((mag1 * mag1) * 2) * time1) + (((mag2 * mag2) * 2) * time2) + (((mag3 * mag3) * 2) * time3) + (((mag4 * mag4) * 2) * time4) + (((mag5 * mag5) * 2) * time5); document.getElementById("msexposure").innerHTML = msexp.toFixed(2); document.getElementById("pointsexposure").innerHTML = pexp.toFixed(0); if (msexp >= 5) { document.getElementById("message").innerHTML = "Exposure is above the ELV, which is the maximum amount of vibration an employee may be exposed to on a single day."; } else if (2.5 <= msexp && msexp < 5) { document.getElementById("message").innerHTML = "Exposure is above the EAV, which means that action is required to control exposure."; } else { document.getElementById("message").innerHTML = "Exposure is below the EAV, which means that it is safe to continue the work in its current form."; } } </script>