TS EN 12786

TS EN 12786 is a guidance standard for writing vibration-related clauses in machinery safety standards. It focuses on how to address vibration when hand-transmitted vibration and/or whole-body vibration is identified as a significant hazard, and it also supports the way vibration emission declaration is treated for portable hand-held and hand-guided machinery as well as mobile machinery.

Why vibration matters in machinery safety

In general technical terms, vibration is mechanical oscillation transferred from a machine to the operator or the surroundings, and the risk depends on how and where that energy is transmitted. Hand-transmitted vibration typically reaches the user through grips and control points, while whole-body vibration is passed through seats, platforms, or other supporting surfaces. That distinction matters because the wording of a safety standard, the information it requires, and the way exposure is presented all depend on the hazard mode involved.

What this guidance is for

From a standards-writing perspective, vibration clauses in a C-type machinery standard need to be clear, consistent, and aligned with the machinery hazard picture. TS EN 12786 provides guidance to the writers of such standards rather than setting machine-specific vibration limits itself. It helps standard developers frame the hazard, indicate what kind of vibration information should be addressed, and handle vibration emission declaration in a way that fits risk reduction and user information practices. The document supplements EN ISO 12100 and supports a harmonized safety-standard approach.

• It addresses cases where hand-transmitted vibration and/or whole-body vibration is a significant hazard.
• It gives guidance on vibration emission declaration for portable hand-held and/or hand-guided machinery.
• It also covers vibration emission declaration for mobile machinery.
• It is intended for writers of harmonized C-type machinery safety standards.
• It supplements EN ISO 12100.