Product Overview

Summary: This Vibration Isolation and Dampening Safe Operating Procedure sets out a clear, practical framework for controlling vibration from plant, equipment and building services. It helps Australian businesses protect workers from hand–arm and whole-body vibration, minimise damage to structures and equipment, and demonstrate due diligence under WHS legislation.

Uncontrolled vibration from machinery, tools and building services can quietly erode both worker health and business performance. From hand–arm vibration injuries in tool operators to whole-body vibration affecting plant operators, drivers and maintenance teams, the risks are often cumulative and hard to spot until permanent damage or costly failures occur. This Vibration Isolation and Dampening Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, repeatable method for identifying vibration sources, selecting appropriate isolation and dampening solutions, and implementing controls in line with Australian WHS requirements.

The SOP guides your team through the full lifecycle of vibration management: initial assessment and measurement, engineering control selection (such as mounts, pads, resilient fixings and isolation systems), installation and verification, ongoing inspection and maintenance, and documentation. It addresses both worker exposure and asset protection, helping to reduce fatigue, musculoskeletal disorders and long-term vibration-related injuries, while also minimising cracking, loosening of fixings and premature equipment failure. By adopting this procedure, organisations can standardise their approach across multiple sites, streamline approvals with engineers and contractors, and provide clear evidence of a systematic risk management process in the event of an audit or incident investigation.

Key Benefits

• Reduce worker exposure to hand–arm and whole-body vibration through a consistent, engineering-led approach to isolation and dampening.
• Ensure alignment with Australian WHS legislation and relevant standards for plant, vibration control and occupational health.
• Extend the service life of equipment and infrastructure by minimising vibration-induced wear, fatigue and structural damage.
• Standardise how vibration issues are identified, assessed, controlled and documented across sites and projects.
• Support defensible decision-making by providing clear criteria for selecting and verifying vibration isolation and dampening solutions.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Maintenance Managers
• Engineering Managers
• Plant and Operations Supervisors
• Mechanical Engineers
• Facilities Managers
• Construction Site Supervisors
• Asset and Reliability Engineers
• Workshop Managers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)

Hazards Addressed

• Hand–arm vibration exposure from powered hand tools and handheld equipment
• Whole-body vibration exposure for plant, vehicle and equipment operators
• Musculoskeletal disorders related to prolonged vibration and associated awkward postures
• Fatigue and reduced concentration due to continuous low-level vibration
• Structural damage to buildings, supports, pipework and fixings from sustained vibration
• Loosening of fasteners and components leading to mechanical failure or detachment
• Noise amplification caused by poorly isolated vibrating equipment
• Secondary hazards from failure of vibration control devices (e.g. collapsed mounts, ruptured flexible connections)

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions (Vibration, Isolation, Dampening, Hand–Arm and Whole-Body Vibration)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Vibration Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Process
• 6.0 Vibration Measurement and Assessment Requirements
• 7.0 Selection of Vibration Isolation and Dampening Controls
• 8.0 Design Review and Engineering Approval
• 9.0 Installation and Commissioning of Isolation and Dampening Systems
• 10.0 Safe Work Methods for Adjusting, Inspecting and Replacing Isolation Components
• 11.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Administrative Controls
• 12.0 Maintenance, Inspection and Testing Schedules
• 13.0 Managing Contractors and Third-Party Installers
• 14.0 Training, Competency and Information for Workers
• 15.0 Incident, Fault and Non-Conformance Reporting
• 16.0 Recordkeeping and Documentation Requirements
• 17.0 Review, Audit and Continuous Improvement of Vibration Controls

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations – duties relating to plant and noise
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: Managing the Risks of Plant in the Workplace
• Safe Work Australia – Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
• AS 2670.1: Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration – General requirements
• AS 2670.2: Evaluation of human exposure to whole-body vibration – Continuous and shock-induced vibration in buildings (1 to 80 Hz)
• AS 2763: Vibration and shock – Hand-transmitted vibration – Guidelines for the measurement and the assessment of human exposure
• AS/NZS ISO 31000: Risk management – Guidelines
• AS/NZS 4801: Occupational health and safety management systems (superseded but still referenced in many systems)
• Manufacturer specifications and engineering guidelines for vibration isolation mounts, pads and systems