Code of Practice: Controlling Risks due to Whole Body Vibration on Ships

The objectives of the ‘Code of Practice for Controlling Risks due to Whole-body Vibration in Ships’ are to:

• Explain the duties of employers regarding the assessment and control of health risks associated with exposure to whole-body vibration in the maritime environment.
• Provide sufficient information to enable employers to assess the risks of injury to seafarers from whole-body vibration.
• Set out measures to be taken to control that risk, either by appropriate design and use of equipment or by the use of methods to limit exposures to whole-body vibration
• Set out the requirements to monitor the health of seafarers.
• Discuss the employer’s duties to inform seafarers of the risks and consequences of exposure to whole-body vibration, and to provide adequate training for the safe use of vessels and machinery

The Code of Practice deals with the:

• assessment of risk from whole-body vibration onboard ships
• measurement and evaluation of whole-body vibration
• assessment of the severity of exposures to whole-body vibration
• identification of controls to eliminate or reduce exposures to whole-body vibration
• involvement of crew members in the control of whole-body vibration risks, including the provision of information and training
• provision of health monitoring and surveillance for whole-body vibration.