How it works and how it affects you as an Employer or as an Operator
eu flag EU Vibration Directive | Suspension Seat with Shock MitigationIn July 2010 the EU’s Vibration Directive obliged all commercial boat operators to provide employees with protection against hand-arm and whole body vibrations ending the 5 year transitional period that was previously imposed. All new and existing equipment must comply and employers must follow the prescribed stages of implementation. These are laid out in the European Vibration Directive 2002/44/EC;
- Assessing risk and exposure
- Planning and implementing the necessary control measures
- Providing and maintaining suitable work equipment such as shock mitigation seats
- Providing workers with information and training on risk and their control
- Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the risk control program.
European Vibration Directive 2002/44/EC translated in different languages; English, Spanish, Italian, German, French, Dutch, Finnish, Slovak, Bulgarian, Estisch, Hungarian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Czech, Danish , Greek, Slovene, Swedish.
Workers who are found to be exposed to health risks have a right to health surveillance and agreed levels of exposure must be established. Where levels are exceeded, employers must act and control risks and to set daily exposure levels.
X-Craft suspension seats are important work equipment for boat operators as they can help them meet the requirements of current legislation such as the European Directives (European Framework Directive 89/391/EEC, European Vibration Directive 2002/44/EC) and UK’s Maritime Coastal Agency Guidance Note MCA MGN 436.