8 in 10 inspected workplaces failed vibration-safety checks
Eight in ten workplaces inspected by Sweden’s Work Environment Authority failed parts of their vibration-safety work. About 500,000 workers are exposed to hand-arm vibration for at least a quarter of their working time.
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The authority’s report covers more than 4,000 inspections at over 2,500 workplaces, mostly in construction, between April 2023 and December 2025. Inspectors issued more than 6,000 requirements for corrective action.
Common failures included missing risk assessments, little knowledge of exposure levels and omitted medical checks. The authority said some employers responded by dismissing staff and hiring subcontractors instead of removing the hazard.
Hand-held machines can cause permanent nerve damage, carpal tunnel syndrome, numbness and loss of fine motor skills. Young carpenters are among those singled out as especially exposed.
The report says employers can reduce risk by changing methods and machines, calculating exposure and monitoring health. Only about 200 vibration-injury claims are approved each year, while some workers may hide symptoms because they fear losing their jobs.
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