HAND ARM VIBRATION MONITORING

Protect your team from HAVS without the need for tool tagging

spacebands’ HAVS warning device tracks real-time vibration exposure and shows you when workers reach the exposure action value (EAV) or exposure limit value (ELV).

Protect your team from vibration over-exposure and stay compliant without spreadsheets, guesswork or manual logging.

Each wearable uses a triaxial accelerometer to measure vibration while tools are being used, then calculates every worker’s daily A(8) exposure automatically and syncs it to the analytics dashboard.

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MEASURING HAVS EXPOSURE

How spacebands monitor HAVS exposure

  • The wearable measures vibration directly
    A triaxial accelerometer records vibration exposure continuously while the tool is in use.
  • Daily exposure is calculated automatically
    No manual maths. No calculator pages. No rounding errors.
  • Workers are alerted in real time
    If their exposure is approaching the action limit, the device warns them instantly. They can stop, rotate tasks or change tools before harm occurs.
  • Everything syncs to the dashboard
    Supervisors can see who is at risk, which tools and tasks are driving exposure, whether limits are being approached and how risk trends change over days and weeks.

one wearable protects staff from multiple hazards

PRODUCT BENEFITS

Get a simple overview of HAVS exposure

Manual HAVS logs are often estimates. Estimates get challenged. Claims and fines are rising.

spacebands gives you:

  • Live HAVS exposure tracking for each worker
  • Automated A(8) and points calculation
  • Exposure warnings on the wearable
  • Tool vibration magnitude suggestions with override
  • Centralised compliance dashboard
  • Downloadable logs for audits and reporting
  • Configurable site and task setups
  • Works indoors, outdoors and across multiple teams

Manual HAVS monitoring tells you what happened after the exposure has already occurred. spacebands moves you from reactive to preventative.

REQUIRED TECHNOLOGY

Hand arm vibration monitoring

To use the spacebands HAVS system you will need the devices below:

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Technology

Admin Dashboard

Accident and near miss data is saved to the analytics dash...

Learn more...
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Technology

Wearables

Wearables alert users to potential hazards...

Learn more...

Customisable Settings:

spacebands wearables use a triaxial accelerometer to track vibration levels while tools are in use.

When a vibration threshold event occurs, the time, date, duration and severity of that event are recorded. The analytics dashboard then shows the accumulated exposure for each wearable over the day, including which threshold level each event occurred at. This gives you a clear record of how close workers are to the EAV and ELV limits.

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Exposure Limit:

Configured to low, medium, high and severe thresholds

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Alert Duration:

Length of time in seconds alert runs

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Alert Type:

Vibrate/Light/Beep

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Exposure Duration:

Length of time exposure permitted

workers are exposed to the risk of hand arm vibration every day
the hand arm vibration problem

2 million workers in the UK are exposed to HAVS

Hand-arm vibration exposure is common, persistent and often underestimated.

  • Up to 1 in 10 regular users of vibrating tools are expected to develop HAVS or vibration-related nerve damage during their working life.
  • HAVS is permanent once established. There is no medical reversal.

The impact is not small:

  • In 2023, over half of all new HAVS cases reported to HSE resulted in workers being unable to perform normal duties.
  • Legal cases and compensation awards frequently exceed £100,000+ per affected worker, especially where exposure records are missing or incomplete.
  • Most enforcement notices issued for HAVS come down to poor monitoring, not lack of awareness.
CUSTOMER FEEDBACK

Testimonials

spacebands are helping Health & Safety managers around the world reduce accidents, injuries and legal claims

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Nick S

Senior H&S Manager

spacebands have transformed the way we control exposure to vibration. In just a year of use we have reduced exposure by close to 80%. And our production has become far more engaged in proactive safety.
I’d recommend spacebands to any company that takes safety seriously.

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Robert M

Health & Safety Manager

Since introducing spacebands, we’ve seen a huge improvement in how we manage hand–arm vibration exposure.
Our monitoring is now instant and accurate, and we’ve significantly reduced the risk of overexposure. The team is also more aware of safe working limits, which has boosted our overall safety culture.

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Chris P

Plant Manager

We had previously used a different HAVs wearable, but they were sitting on a shelf gathering dust because our team didn't have the time for tool tagging.
With spacebands, they just have to be wearing the wearable and it records daily exposure.

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David N

Site Manager

spacebands gave us the ability to measure various levels of exposure, various tools and various tasks without having to recalibrate or recalculate; or most importantly having a negative effect on our production.    
We looked at a few other options but no others that we saw came with that level of flexibility.

CONTACT US

Get in touch with us

Investing in spacebands is a great way to keep your workforce safe, whilst saving your company money.

The cost of just one non-fatal workplace accident is £15,700 - this doesn't include regulatory fines, increased insurance premiums or reputational damage.

Want to see how our wearables and analytics help you control hand arm vibration (HAVS), workplace noise, vehicle and machinery proximity, PPE compliance and unauthorised access? Get in touch with us.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

spacebands are helping Health & Safety managers around the world reduce accidents, injuries and legal claims

Is staying beneath the exposure level (EAV/ELV) sufficient for compliance?

While staying below the EAV/ELV is a crucial step in ensuring worker safety, it doesn't guarantee complete compliance with occupational health and safety regulations.

Other factors that need to be considered include:
Risk assessment, PPE and emergency procedures.

spacebands HAVS feature is a great solution for monitoring exposure levels but alone it does not guarantee HSE compliance.

Do spacebands keep records for our insurance company?

All HAVS information is saved on each wearable device and uploaded to the analytics dashboard when the device is charged. Information is saved on the dashboard over time and you can look back at different date ranges and share this with your insurance company - if you would like to do so!

Why does my company need a HAV monitoring device?

A HAV monitoring device can help your company to protect the health and safety of workers who use vibrating tools and equipment, comply with health and safety regulations, prevent work-related injuries and illnesses, and reduce workers' compensation costs.

What is HAVS exposure measured in?

Exposure is measured in m/s² A(8), which represents the average vibration level over a standard eight-hour workday.

Can HAVS be reversed?

Early symptoms can improve if exposure stops and controls are applied. Once nerve and vascular damage advance, changes become permanent.

Should workers be constantly monitored for HAVS when using machinery or equipment?

While regular monitoring for HAVS is important, it should be part of a comprehensive approach to preventing and managing the condition, including risk assessments, preventive measures, and regular health surveillance.

Does spacebands use triaxial vibration monitoring?

Yes. spacebands wearables use a triaxial accelerometer to measure vibration in three axes. This provides more reliable HAVS monitoring than single-axis sensing, especially when tools are used at different angles.

What is a HAV monitoring device?

A Hand-Arm Vibration monitoring device is a tool used to measure the level of vibration emitted by tools and equipment used by workers, which can help to identify the risk of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). HAV devices can help employers to identify the risk of HAVS and implement appropriate preventive measures.

How accurate is the spacebands HAV monitoring device?

spacebands measures hand-arm vibration exposure using a triaxial accelerometer, the same type of sensor commonly used in industrial monitoring, aerospace instrumentation, and medical-grade wearables.

A triaxial accelerometer captures vibration in three dimensions simultaneously (X, Y and Z axes), providing a more complete picture of how vibration travels through the hand and arm during tool use.

When a worker operates a tool, vibration waves travel through the device, through the grip, into the wrist and arm. The accelerometer inside the spaceband samples these vibration forces thousands of times per second, translating physical vibration into digital data points. The device then applies the internationally recognised HAV exposure calculation model to estimate:
Daily exposure points
• A(8) exposure level
• Progression towards the EAV and ELV limits

This allows spacebands to provide real-time warnings when exposure risks are increasing — helping workers adjust behaviour before harm occurs, rather than discovering over-exposure hours later.

spacebands wearables do not require tool tagging, which makes them much easier for end users to adopt. Products that use tool tagging provide a big roadblock to end user adoption.

How do employers stay compliant with HAVS regulations?

They must assess exposure levels, keep records, act at the EAV, prevent work above the ELV, maintain tools and train workers to report symptoms early.

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