Regulation 2 Interpretation

In these Regulations—

• “daily exposure” means the quantity of mechanical vibration to which a worker is exposed during a working day, normalised to an 8-hour reference period, which takes account of the magnitude and duration of the vibration;

• “emergency services” include—

  1. (a)

     police, fire, rescue and ambulance services;

  2. (b)

     Her Majesty’s Coastguard;

• “enforcing authority” means the Executive or district council, determined in accordance with the provisions of the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999^f1;

• “exposure action value” means the level of daily exposure set out in regulation 4 for any worker which, if reached or exceeded, requires specified action to be taken to reduce risk;

• “exposure limit value” means the level of daily exposure set out in regulation 4 for any worker which must not be exceeded, save as set out in regulation 6(5);

• “hand-arm vibration” means mechanical vibration which is transmitted into the hands and arms during a work activity;

• “health surveillance” means assessment of the state of health of an employee, as related to exposure to vibration;

• “mechanical vibration” means vibration occurring in a piece of machinery or equipment or in a vehicle as a result of its operation;

• “risk assessment” means the assessment of risk required by regulation 5;

• “territorial sea” means the territorial sea of the United Kingdom adjacent to Northern Ireland and “within the territorial sea” includes on, over and under it;

• “whole-body vibration” means mechanical vibration which is transmitted into the body, when seated or standing, through the supporting surface, during a work activity or as described in regulation 5(3)(f); and

• “working day” means a daily working period, irrespective of the time of day when it begins or ends, and whether it begins or ends on the same calendar day.

In these regulations, a reference to an employee being exposed to vibration is a reference to the exposure of that employee to mechanical vibration arising out of or in connection with his work.