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Whole-body vibration (WBV) is shaking or jolting transmitted through the seat or feet, mostly from driving or riding on mobile machinery over rough ground. It is covered by the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, the same regulations that cover hand-arm vibration.
The action and limit values
| Value | Daily exposure, A(8) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure action value | 0.5 m/s² | Above this, employers must take action to reduce exposure as far as reasonably practicable |
| Exposure limit value | 1.15 m/s² | Must not be exceeded |
Where it happens
- Driving dumpers, tractors, quarry vehicles and articulated haulers over rough or potholed ground
- Excavators and other off-road machinery tracking over uneven surfaces
- Forklift trucks on poor floors or yards
- Fast boats in rough water
- Repeated jolts and shocks, which are often more harmful than steady vibration
Health effects
Whole-body vibration, particularly severe jolts, can contribute to back pain. Back pain at work usually has several causes, such as poor posture, long periods sitting, manual handling and climbing in and out of cabs, so controls should tackle all of them. Our guide to manual handling covers related risks.
Practical controls
- Maintain haul roads and site routes, filling potholes and removing bumps.
- Choose machines suited to the ground and task, with good suspension.
- Fit and maintain suspension seats, and adjust them to the driver’s weight.
- Train drivers to adjust their speed to the ground and avoid sudden jolts.
- Plan work to limit time on rough ground and allow breaks and changes of task.
- Encourage drivers to report back pain early.
Our guides to mobile plant safety and construction traffic management cover safe haul routes.
The ACoP and official guidance
| Publication | Status | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| L141 Whole-body vibration (2005) | Guidance on Regulations, not an ACoP | Assessing exposure, the action and limit values, controls and health monitoring. |
An Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) has special legal status under section 16 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. If you are prosecuted and did not follow it, you must show that you met the law in some other way that was just as good. Guidance on Regulations has no special legal status, but inspectors refer to it and following it is normally enough to comply. Our guide to UK health and safety legislation lists every law and its ACoP or guidance in one place.
Training that helps
In construction, SMSTS and SSSTS cover vibration and plant risks for managers and supervisors, and the NEBOSH construction certificate covers them in depth. Our hand-arm vibration eLearning covers the related hand-arm risks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the action value for whole-body vibration?
0.5 m/s² A(8), averaged over an 8 hour day.
What is the limit value for whole-body vibration?
1.15 m/s² A(8), which must not be exceeded.
Which law covers whole-body vibration?
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, which also cover hand-arm vibration.
Is there an ACoP for whole-body vibration?
No. HSE publishes L141, which is guidance on the regulations.
Read the source
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 and HSE L141, Whole-body vibration, Guidance on Regulations. Facts checked on 7 October 2026.
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