Vibration it can be very harmful – leading to eventual failure of the system. Consequently, one of the major reasons for vibration analysis is to predict when this type of resonance may occur and then to determine what steps to take to prevent it from occurring. As the amplitude plot shows, adding damping can significantly reduce the magnitude of the vibration. Also, the magnitude can be reduced if the natural frequency can be shifted away from the forcing frequency by changing the stiffness or mass of the system. If the system cannot be changed, perhaps the forcing frequency can be shifted
Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 is the maximum amount that an employee can be exposed to in a day. The values are measured using a formula which works out the average (A) exposure over an 8-hour day. The values are therefore written as A(8). The rate of vibration of a tool or piece of machinery is then measured in metres (m) per second (s) and written as m/s². In order to help employers calculate the exposure levels using the formula, the Health and Safety executive created an exposure calculator. Regulation 5 requires any employer who exposes employees to risk from vibration to make a 'suitable