Which action is considered an engineering control to reduce hand-arm vibration exposure?

Which action is considered an engineering control to reduce hand-arm vibration exposure?

• A. Wear gloves
• B. Increase exposure time
• C. Use anti-vibration tools
• D. Ignore

Answer: (C)

Using anti-vibration tools is an engineering control because it changes the tool or its operation to reduce the vibration reaching the hands at the source. These tools are designed with features like dampers, low-vibration handles, and better balance to lower the amount of vibration transmitted during work, which directly cuts the exposure dose. Wearing gloves is PPE and provides a barrier, not an engineering reduction of the vibration itself. Increasing exposure time raises dose rather than lowers it, and ignoring the hazard does nothing to reduce risk.

Using anti-vibration tools is an engineering control because it changes the tool or its operation to reduce the vibration reaching the hands at the source. These tools are designed with features like dampers, low-vibration handles, and better balance to lower the amount of vibration transmitted during work, which directly cuts the exposure dose.

Wearing gloves is PPE and provides a barrier, not an engineering reduction of the vibration itself. Increasing exposure time raises dose rather than lowers it, and ignoring the hazard does nothing to reduce risk.