Is there a legal or recomended length of time to be using a hydrulic breaker / jack hammer. for?

Question

i have been using one all day and in quite alot of discomfort

Answer 1

All tools have  vibration ratings ...  and employers must stick to the guidelines  

Sadly  a tool can be used for up to eight hours ... tested by an scientist  

Sadly  real life....   all depend on what your breaking  

Tarmac or  concrete

If your tool is old ....   max is up to  2 hrs  daily

If its new and has a damper within,  this can increase slightly

If you have had a 8 hr job,   your company should have done this job with a bigger machine   JCB with an attachment

Sadly  vibration tools   hurt,  and  can be lethal if used daily

I repair  air and hydraulic  tools for the hire industry

Most of them are scrap due to  modern regs

Answer 2

the employer must by law assess the risk to you of using this tool.

to do that they must know what the level of 'vibration' is for it and can therefore determine the maximum time it can be used for

ask to see the manufacturers H&S data and how the employer deduced that you could spend all day on it

if they tell you to get on with it, f off or threaten to sack you call the HSE. tell the employer you are not working on that tool until you have seen the assessment /information.

if you are sacked for not doing that task without the assessment call the HSE and go to employment tribuneral

you are better of elsewhere as they dont care whether you are injured or not. its you who will have to live with your illnesses/injuries for your lifetime not them

Answer 3

HSE State you should work in pairs and spend a max of TWENTY mins on and swap over.