Vibration Meters, Rent or Buy

Occupational vibration is divided into two categories: hand-arm vibration (HAV) from power tools and machinery, and whole-body vibration (WBV) from vehicles, platforms, and industrial equipment. Prolonged HAV exposure causes Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), including vibration white finger (Raynaud's phenomenon), nerve damage, and musculoskeletal disorders of the hand and wrist. WBV exposure is associated with low back pain, spinal degeneration, and fatigue. Workers most at risk include construction workers, miners, quarry workers, forestry operators, and heavy vehicle drivers. Vibration is measured in meters per second squared (m/s²) using calibrated accelerometers.

Vibration monitoring quantifies hand-arm and whole-body vibration exposure from power tools, heavy equipment, and vehicle operation to help meet ISO 5349 and ISO 2631 standards. Rent Svantek vibration meters from RAECO Rents for construction, manufacturing, mining, and transportation assessments. All instruments are well maintained, annually calibrated, and functionally tested before shipment. Our team can help you select the right meter and accelerometer configuration for your exposure study.

Regulatory Exposure Limits

Updated on March 09, 2026

OSHA PEL

TWA: N/A

STEL: N/A

C: N/A

NIOSH REL

TWA: N/A

STEL: N/A

C: N/A

ACGIH TLV

TWA: N/A

STEL: N/A

C: N/A

Filters

What vibration measurement plan gives me results I can actually use?

Measure the key tasks (not everything), capture representative durations, and document tool type, grip, material, and operator posture. The goal is to translate task measurements into a daily exposure estimate.

Should I focus on hand-arm vibration (HAV) or whole-body vibration (WBV)?

Focus on HAV when workers use handheld power tools (grinders, jackhammers, chisels). Focus on WBV when workers are seated in or on vehicles, heavy equipment, or platforms that transmit vibration through the seat or floor.

Do I need a vibration dosimeter or a handheld vibration meter?

Use a handheld vibration meter when you can stop the task and take a discrete measurement at a known operating condition—useful for characterizing specific tools or vehicle seats. Use a vibration dosimeter when you need to capture cumulative exposure over a full work shift or task, especially when exposure varies (multiple tools, start-stop operations). Dosimeters worn throughout the shift give the most representative daily exposure estimate for HAV or WBV compliance assessments.

When is vibration measurement most useful for control decisions?

When you're comparing tools, evaluating anti-vibration interventions, or justifying schedule or job-rotation changes. Before-and-after measurements with a consistent method are the most defensible way to show whether a control worked.

When do I need vibration exposure measurements instead of just tool vibration specs?

Measure vibration when you need a defensible exposure picture for real tasks, grips, and durations. Tool specs can be useful for comparison, but real exposure depends on how the tool is used, the material, and actual time on tool.

What should I know before renting vibration monitoring equipment?

Confirm whether you're measuring hand-arm vibration (HAV) or whole-body vibration (WBV), what standards or metrics you need (ISO-style A(8) calculations), and whether you're comparing tools, verifying controls, or building an exposure record. That determines the meter and mounting accessories required.