Federal Ministry of Justice
regulation to protect workers from the hazards of noise and vibration

http://bundesrecht.juris.de/l_rmvibrationsarbschv/index.html

EC Directive 10/2003 article 3

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2003:042:0038:0044:DE:PDF

Sections of the regulation are shown in black text. Note comments in red

§ 6 action levels of noise

The action values ​​in respect of the daily noise exposure levels and peak sound pressure levels are:

1. Upper exposure action values: L (low) EX, 8h = 85 dB (A) or L (low) pC, peak = 137 dB (C),
2. Lower exposure action values: L (low) EX, 8h = 80 dB (A) or L (low) pC, peak = 135 dB (C). For the purposes of the action values, the attenuation effect of individual hearing protection for employees is not considered.

Every shot of a hunting or sporting firearm surpasses these action levels!

§ 7 Measures to prevent and reduce the noise exposure

(1) The employer shall perform the specified pursuant to § 3 paragraph 1, sentence 6 protective measures according to the prior article in order to eliminate or reduce as far as possible the risk to workers. The following precedence must be considered:

1. The noise emission must be prevented at its source or reduced as far as possible. Technical measures take precedence over organisational measures. origin = muzzle of the gun.
   Technical measures have take precedence over organisational measures = shooting noise reducer in the form of silencer/moderator on the weapon takes precedence over ear protection in the form of personal protective equipment/head supported ear muffs/plugs.
2. The measures referred to in point 1 shall take precedence over the use of hearing protection in accordance with § 8 mount = shooting noise reducer in the form of silencer/moderator on the weapon to take precedence over hearings protection in the form of a personal protection/head supported ear muffs/pugs.

(2) The measures referred to in paragraph 1 shall include:

1. other working methods that reduce the exposure of workers to noise,
2. selection and use of new or already existing work equipment under the leading point of noise reduction,   shooting noise reducer in the form of silencer/moderator
3. the noise-reducing design and creation of workplaces and work stations,
4. technical measures for reducing airborne noise, e.g. by shields or enclosures, and architectural noise reduction, for example by sound proofing or insulation or by architectural design,
5. maintenance programs for work equipment, workplaces and equipment,
6. work organisational measures to reduce noise by limiting the duration and extent of exposure and work schedules which limit exposure times without pressure to exceed them.

(3) In rest rooms noise should be reduced to take into account their purpose and terms of noise exposure as much as possible.

(4) If the employer (this includes shooting tenant!)  has work areas in which one of the upper exposure action values ​​for noise (LEX, 8h, LpC, peak) can be exceeded, these areas must be identified and, if technically possible, isolated (the would be a hunting area or firing range). In these areas, workers may only stop when the work process requires it and use the employees appropriate personal protective equipment; Paragraph 1 shall remain unaffected.

(5) If an activity exceeds the upper exposure action values, the employer shall develop and implement a program of technical and organisational measures to reduce noise exposure. The paragraphs are particularly 1 and 2 to take into account. Forestry officials and hunting tenants, are you meeting your legal obligations?

§ 8 hearing protection

(1) If noise is still above the lower exposure action values ​​according to § 6 sentence 1 No. 2 despite implementation of the measures according to § 7 paragraph 1, the employer must provide the employee suitable personal hearing protectors that meet the requirements of paragraph 2., ear protection = last possible method of reducing the hazard (2) The individual hearing protection selected by the employer must be of a standard that its application eliminates the risk to hearing or to reduce it to a minimum. In this case, account must be taken of the attenuation characteristics of hearing protection to ensure the noise pressure acting on the hearing of workers does not exceed maximum permissible exposure levels L (low) EX, 8h = 85 dB (A) or L (low) pC, peak = 137 dB ( C). (3) Where noise exposure in the workplace reaches or exceeds one of the upper exposure action values ​​according to § 6 sentence 1 No. 1, the employer shall ensure that employees use personal hearing protection as intended. (4) The condition of the selected individual hearing protectors shall be checked at regular intervals. If the employer finds here that the requirements of paragraph 2, sentence 2 are not complied with, he shall immediately identify the reasons for this non-compliance and take any necessary measures for continued compliance with the requirements.

Legal position vibration

§ 9 Exposure limit values ​​and action values ​​for vibration

(1) Is for hand-arm vibration

1. the exposure limit value A (8) = 5 m/s2 and
2. the action value A (8) = 2.5 m/s2

The exposure of workers to hand-arm vibration shall be determined and assessed in accordance with point 1 of Annex.

(2) Is for whole-body vibration

1. the exposure limit value A (8) = 1.15 m/s2 in X and Y direction and A (8) = 0.8 m/s2 in the Z direction and
2. the action value A (8) = 0.5 m/s2 The exposure of workers to whole-body vibration shall be determined and assessed in accordance with point 2 of the Annex.

The recoil energy of a typical hunting rifle exceeds this value. Every hunter knows pain and hematoma (bruising) in the shoulder area. How many hunters know, however, that permanent damage may be caused by recoil? 

F = force (5000N or 5 kN) 
m = mass (4.5kg hunting weapon + ZFR) 
a = acceleration 
F (5 kN) / m (4.5kg) = a (1111.1111111 ) m/s2       
are 111.1 G (!) acting during the shot for about 3 milliseconds on the human body. No wonder there are bruises, headaches and shoulder pain.

§ 10 Measures to prevent and reduce exposure to vibration

(1) The employer shall perform as set out in § 3, paragraph 1, sentence 6 protective measures according to the prior article in order to eliminate or reduce as far as possible the risk to workers. This vibration must be prevented at its source or reduced as far as possible. Technical measures to reduce vibrations take precedence over organisational measures.  Muzzle brakes reduce the recoil of a weapon up to 50%, but usually increase the noise level. Shooting with noise reducer in the form of silencer/moderator reduce the recoil of a weapon by more than 30% and also offers a hearing protection measure.

(2) The measures referred to in paragraph 1 includes, in particular

1. other working methods that reduce exposure to vibration,
2. selection and use of new or existing equipment, which are designed according to ergonomic principles, taking into account the work to be performed, producing the least possible vibration, such as vibration-free handheld or hand guided machines, which reduce the force transmitted to the hand-arm vibration system ,
3. the provision of auxiliary equipment that reduce the health risks due to vibration, such as seats that attenuate whole body vibration effectively,
4. maintenance programs for work equipment, workplaces and facilities and roadways,
5. the design and creation of workplaces and work stations,
6. the training of employees in the safe and proper use of low-vibration work equipment,
7. limitation of the duration and intensity of exposure,
8. work schedules which limit exposure times without pressure exceed them,
9. and the provision of clothing for vulnerable workers for protection against cold and wet.

(3) The employer must, in particular, ensure the measures referred to in paragraph 1, limits the exposure of workers to vibration in accordance to § 9 para 1 sentence 1 no 1 and § 9 paragraph 2, sentence 1, No. 1 so that the limits not be exceeded. If exposure limits are exceeded in spite of the measures implemented, the employer must immediately identify the reasons and to take further measures to reduce exposure to below the exposure limits and to prevent them being exceeded again.

(4) If the action values ​​according to § 9 para 1 sentence 1 number 2 or § 9 paragraph 2, sentence 1, No. 2 is exceeded, the employer shall prepare and implement a program of technical and organisational measures to reduce exposure to vibration. In particular, the measures referred to in paragraph 2 shall be considered.

Appendix vibrations

1.Hand-arm vibration

1.1 Identification and assessment of exposure

The assessment of the level of exposure to hand-arm vibration is based on the prior article based on the calculation of the normalised to a reference period of eight hours daily exposure value A (8); this is expressed as the square root of the sum of squares (total value) of the rms values ​​of the frequency-weighted acceleration in the three orthogonal directions a (deep) HWX, a (deep) hwy, a (deep) hwz.

The assessment of the level of exposure may be performed using the manufacturer’s data on the extent of the emission from the work equipment used and/or the observation of specific work practices, or on measurement of an estimate.

1.2 Measuring

In the case of measurements in accordance with § 4 para 2

a) sampling methods can be used, if they are representative of the mechanical vibration in question to which the individual employee is exposed; the methods and apparatus used must be adapted to the particular characteristics of the measured vibration, environmental factors and the technical features of the instrument in this case;

b) to devices that must be held with both hands or are made to make the measurements on each hand. The exposure is determined by reference to the higher of the two values; the value for the other hand is also specified.

1.3 Interference

§ 3, paragraph 3, sentence 2 is in particular to take into account when the mechanical vibration interferes with the proper handling of controls or disturbs the reading of indicators.

1.4 Indirect risks

§ 3, paragraph 3, sentence 2 is in particular to take into account when the mechanical vibration is detrimental to the stability of structures or the security of joints.

1.5 Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment against hand-arm vibration can be part of the program of measures according to § 10 paragraph 4.

2 whole-body vibration

2.1 Assessment of exposure

The assessment of the level of exposure to whole-body vibration is carried out according to the prior article based on the calculation of the normalized to a reference period of eight hours daily vibration exposure value A (8); this is determined from that of the corrected rms value of the frequency-weighted acceleration 1.4 awx, 1,4 awy or awz of the three mutually orthogonal directions x, y or z, in which the period of time would exceed the exposure action value or the exposure limit value, the lowest is.

The assessment of the level of exposure may be performed using the manufacturer’s data on the extent of the emission from the work equipment used and/or observation of specific work practices, or on measurement of an estimate.

2.2 Measurement

In the case of measurements in accordance with § 4 para 2 sampling techniques may be used if they are representative of the mechanical vibration in question faced by the individual employees. The method used must be adapted to the particular characteristics of the measured vibration, environmental factors and the technical features of the instrument.

2.3 Interference

§ 3, paragraph 3, sentence 2 is in particular to take into account when the mechanical vibration interferes with the proper handling of controls or disturbs the reading of indicators.

2.4 Indirect threats

§ 3, paragraph 3, sentence 2 is in particular to take into account when the mechanical vibration is detrimental to the stability of structures or the security of joints.

2.5 expanses of exposure

If the expansion of occupational exposure over an eight hour shift also means that employees use monitored by the employer rest rooms, the whole-body vibration must be reduced to the purpose and the conditions of use of premises to a level compatible in these. Acts of violence are excluded.