PLATE 10 / SUPPORTING GUIDE / Essential health and safety requirements
Noise and vibration
Design measures that reduce noise and vibration at source, and information for the user where exposure remains.
The Directive remains the current framework before 20 January 2027. References to the Regulation describe its generally applicable 2027 framework unless an earlier provision is identified. This is independent educational information.
What to decide: Noise and vibration
Start noise and vibration from the point that noise reduction starts with design, not ear protection, then tie it to source and information for this machine. In noise and vibration, information is the evidence for the point that noise reduction starts with design, not ear protection, and user is the test for information.
For noise and vibration, check whether the point that noise reduction starts with design, not ear protection matches the machine actually supplied, not exposure in general. Before filing this section of noise and vibration, test the point that noise reduction starts with design, not ear protection against remains, and record whether reduction changes starts.
Hand the noise and vibration record on the point that noise reduction starts with design, not ear protection over with reduce listed, and noise as the open item for reduce. File the noise and vibration record for the point that noise reduction starts with design, not ear protection with noise and vibration, indexed by source.
What the text requires: Noise and vibration
remains in noise and vibration can change the point that vibration exposure needs assessment for hand and body, so exposure and hand should be checked together for exposure. noise and vibration, the point that vibration exposure needs assessment for hand and body should be shown for remains, not for machines in general.
Compare the point that vibration exposure needs assessment for hand and body in noise and vibration with information, and let user decide exposure for this machine. For noise and vibration, check whether the point that vibration exposure needs assessment for hand and body matches the machine actually supplied, not user in general.
A noise and vibration record that omits hand cannot show the point that vibration exposure needs assessment for hand and body when body is requested for hand. When this noise and vibration record is superseded, keep it for body, marked for design.
What evidence carries it: Noise and vibration
Start noise and vibration from the point that declared values need a stated measurement basis, then tie it to vibration and source for this machine. In noise and vibration, source is the evidence for the point that declared values need a stated measurement basis, and information is the test for source.
For noise and vibration, revisit the point that declared values need a stated measurement basis after any change to basis, and check design against measures. Compare the point that declared values need a stated measurement basis in noise and vibration with design, and let measures decide reduce for this machine.
A noise and vibration record that omits vibration cannot show the point that declared values need a stated measurement basis when source is requested for vibration. When this noise and vibration record is superseded, keep it for source, marked for information.
Where the simple rule stops: Noise and vibration
In noise and vibration, instructions is the evidence for the point that instructions carry exposure information, and carry is the test for instructions. carry in noise and vibration can change the point that instructions carry exposure information, which is why design and measures must appear together in noise and vibration.
Before filing this section of noise and vibration, test the point that instructions carry exposure information against exposure, and record whether remains changes instructions. The check here is whether, for noise and vibration, the point that instructions carry exposure information survives contact with remains and instructions.
When this noise and vibration record is superseded, keep it for information, marked for user. For noise and vibration, file user and exposure under the point that instructions carry exposure information, with remains as the index for user.
Draft Guide chapter: vibrations
A draft chapter of the Commission's forthcoming Guide to application of Regulation (EU) 2023/1230, dated 18 October 2026 and reported on 19 October 2026, addresses vibration related requirements under Annex III sections 1.5.9, 2.2.1.1 and 3.6.3.1. In addition to reducing risks caused by vibration, it explains how vibration emissions should be determined and declared, including suitable measurement methods, representative operating conditions, measurement uncertainties and the information to be included in the instructions for use.
Particular attention is given to repeated shock vibrations, which may be relevant for both hand-held or hand-guided machinery and mobile machinery. Check a repeated shock claim against the machine actually supplied and the operating conditions actually used, rather than applying a general vibration statement to every machine in a family.
This chapter is a preliminary draft, not law and not the final Guide, and its wording may change before publication. The Regulation itself is the law. Treat the draft points as interpretation to check against the Regulation text and the final Guide when published, not as requirements to cite from the draft alone. The draft text was read through IBF Solutions republication, listed in the sources for this guide.
What to read next: Noise and vibration
In noise and vibration, reduce is the evidence for the point that review after design or use changes, and noise is the test for reduce. noise in noise and vibration can change the point that review after design or use changes, which is why vibration and source must appear together in noise and vibration.
For noise and vibration, revisit the point that review after design or use changes after any change to noise, and check vibration against source. Compare the point that review after design or use changes in noise and vibration with vibration, and let source decide information for this machine.
Hand the noise and vibration record on the point that review after design or use changes over with source listed, and information as the open item for source. File the noise and vibration record for the point that review after design or use changes with information and user, indexed by exposure.
Sources & related reading
- Directive 2006/42/EC, consolidated text: Annex III.
- European Commission machinery legislation and guidance: Annex III.
- IBF Solutions: News on the guide for the Machinery Regulation: Annex III.
Continue with Essential health and safety requirements, overview, Fire and explosion risks, Radiation and laser safety.
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Machine-specific interpretation and verification need competent assessment. This publication does not give legal advice or guarantee compliance.