ACCORDING to Neil Hedley, operations manager at Ace Plant UK, 2026 is the year when whole-body vibration (WBV) moves from a background nuisance to a front-line occupational health issue, as longer operating hours, heavier plant usage, and more complex infrastructure projects mean workers are facing higher levels of vibration exposure than ever before.

‘For decades, operators of excavators, dumpers, rollers, dozers, and telehandlers have accepted vibration as ‘part of the job’ – until now,’ said Mr Hedley.

‘The law has been clear since the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. Employers must monitor and manage exposure, keeping it below the Exposure Action Value of 0.5m/s

and never exceeding the exposure Limit Value of 1.15m/s

.

‘What is changing in 2026 is the way compliance is being enforced. Regulators are scrutinizing more closely, expecting robust evidence of risk assessments, mitigation measures, and long-term monitoring. Assumptions and generic statements will no longer suffice – this is a year where action, not theory, matters,’ said Mr Hedley.

He added that the effects of WBV – chronic back pain, spinal damage, fatigue, reduced concentration, and long-term musculoskeletal disorders – are no longer theoretical; they are real, measurable, and unavoidable if left unchecked.

At the same time, the industry’s focus on health and well-being is intensifying. WBV is no longer just a compliance box; it affects productivity, absenteeism, and long-term employee retention, and contractors and hire companies alike are realizing that protecting workers is no longer optional, it is essential.

In short, 2026 is a tipping point. Enforcement is tightening, exposure is rising, and expectations for workforce well-being have never been higher. Mr Hedley believes those who act now, measuring, managing, and mitigating WBV exposure, will not only protect their workforce, but will set the standard for an industry that has ignored vibration for too long.

‘This is where hire companies like ACE Plant are stepping up,’ he concluded. ‘Through data-led testing, benchmarking, and operator education, we are helping contractors and those that hire from us to understand what WBV looks like and how to manage it before it becomes a chronic problem.

‘For construction, whilst WBV has always been part of the job, uncontrolled WBV does not have to be – 2026 is the year the industry wakes up.’

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