Question 1

What is a HAVS assessment?

Accepted Answer

It covers two different things: health surveillance, which monitors an individual worker's health once they're exposed to hand-arm vibration, and a risk assessment, which evaluates the vibration exposure in your workplace. Both sit under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, but they answer different questions.

Question 2

What's the difference between health surveillance and a risk assessment?

Accepted Answer

Health surveillance monitors worker health through HSE's tiered approach (questionnaire through to physician diagnosis). A risk assessment evaluates workplace exposure — tools, trigger times and A(8) — and is what tells you whether surveillance is needed at all.

Question 3

How often is HAVS health surveillance required?

Accepted Answer

At least annually once a worker is under surveillance, with a baseline assessment before or shortly after they start vibration-exposed work. See our full breakdown of surveillance frequency.

Question 4

What are the HAVS tiers?

Accepted Answer

HSE guidance describes five tiers: an initial questionnaire (Tier 1), annual review (Tier 2), clinical assessment (Tier 3), formal diagnosis (Tier 4), and optional specialist referral (Tier 5). Read our full tier guide for how they connect.

Question 5

Do I need a risk assessment before booking health surveillance?

Accepted Answer

A risk assessment is what establishes whether surveillance is required and for whom. If you haven't assessed your workplace's vibration exposure yet, that's the logical starting point.

Question 6

Can you handle assessments for multiple employees?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Tell us your workforce size, the tools involved and any tiers already established, and we'll confirm a schedule for your group.

Question 7

How much does a HAVS assessment cost?

Accepted Answer

We don't publish a fixed price list, because the right service depends on your workforce size, the tier required, and whether you need surveillance, a risk assessment, or both. We confirm a quote once we know these details, rather than a number that may not reflect what you actually need.

Question 8

What happens if a business doesn't comply?

Accepted Answer

The HSE can issue improvement or prohibition notices and take enforcement action, including prosecution, for breaches of the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. Beyond enforcement, the practical risk is workers developing HAVS without surveillance in place to catch it early.

Question 9

Can HAVS be reversed?

Accepted Answer

Once nerve or vascular damage has progressed, it doesn't reverse. Early-stage symptoms can stabilise if exposure is reduced quickly, which is why symptoms should be reported and assessed rather than worked through.

Question 10

How can we reduce vibration exposure?

Accepted Answer

Lower-vibration tools, shorter daily trigger time, well-maintained equipment, task rotation and scheduled breaks all help. A risk assessment identifies which of these will actually move your A(8) figure, rather than guessing.

Protect your people from hand-arm vibration.

What do you need to understand?

Is vibration affecting my employee?

How much vibration are our tools creating?

From enquiry to action in four clear steps.

Tell us about the work

We confirm what applies

Assessment takes place

You receive the outcome

Spot risk early. Act before damage progresses.

One team, one organised assessment plan.

What employers ask first.

Tell us about your workforce.