§325 移動式機械により伝達される振動の宣言

The requirement set out in section 3.6.3.1 is complementary to the general requirements relating to the instructions set out in section 1.7.4. In particular, the requirements relating to the language of the instructions apply – see §257: comments on sections 1.7.4.1 (a) and (b).

The first two indents of the first paragraph of section 3.6.3.1 set out the physical quantities relating to the vibrations transmitted by mobile machinery to the hand-arm system and to the whole body that must be declared in the instructions.

The values measured on the machinery must be declared if they exceed 2.5 m/s for the hand-arm system and 0.5 m/s for the whole body. If the values measured on the machinery do not exceed these values, that fact must be declared. The vibrations transmitted by the machinery must therefore be measured by the machinery manufacturer using an appropriate test method, unless it has been established that, for the category of machinery concerned, the measured values never exceed the above limits – this may be stated in the C-type standard for the category of machinery concerned.

The declaration of vibrations transmitted by the machinery has two main purposes:

to assist users to choose machinery with reduced vibration emissions;

to provide information useful for the risk assessment to be carried out by the employer according to the national provisions implementing Directive 2002/44/EC on the exposure of workers to the risks arising from vibrations.

minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from

In this respect, it should be recalled that the level of exposure of workers to vibrations cannot be simply deduced from the machinery manufacturer's declaration of vibration emissions, since the exposure of operators is also influenced by other factors – see §231: comments on section 1.5.9.

The third indent of the first paragraph of section 3.6.3.1 requires the uncertainties surrounding the declared values to be specified. Guidance on determining the uncertainty associated with the measurement of vibrations transmitted by the machinery should be given in the relevant test codes.

The second paragraph of section 3.6.3.1 implies that, in the case of series production, measurement can be carried out on a representative sample of technically comparable machinery. In the case of one-off production, the manufacturer must measure the vibrations transmitted by each item of machinery supplied.

The third and last paragraphs of section 3.6.3.1 concern the methods to be used for measuring vibrations. Operating conditions have a strong influence on the vibrations transmitted by machinery. Measurement of vibrations should therefore be carried out under representative operating conditions. Vibration test codes for machinery specify the operating conditions or the range of operating conditions under which the measurements shall be made. Where a test code specified in a harmonised standard states the operating conditions under which the measurement is to be made, a reference to the harmonised standard is sufficient to indicate the operating conditions and measurement methods used. Where other test methods are used, the operating conditions and measurement methods used must be indicated in the declaration of vibrations.

General guidance on the determination of the vibration emission value for mobile machinery is given in standard EN 1032.

It should be noted that the values declared in the instructions relating to vibrations must also be included in commercial documents relating to the performance characteristics of the machinery – see §273: comments on section 1.7.4.3.