Historically the requirement to measure and assess the vibration resulting from using a powered hand tool related to a biaxial measurement, forwards and backwards vibration, so the use of anti-vibration gloves could be considered to offer protection. However, the current regulations require the measurement of data in three axes to provide a total vibration value. Consequently the requirement to consider triaxial vibration, taking side to side vibration in addition to forwards and backwards, has brought the use of such gloves to provide protection into doubt.
The research arm of the HSE have been carrying out tests to evaluate the performance of anti-vibration gloves when taking triaxial measurements.Their basic findings were that there is no current measurement technique which is suitable for assessing the ability of a gloves ability to attenuate the vibration, consequently there is no way of confirming them as suitable as required under the Personal Protective Equipment Regulations.
Members are therefor advised not to rely on gloves as a means of reducing the effects of vibration but rather to use tools with lower vibration values. Vibration data can be obtained from manufacturers / suppliers.