The mechanical response characteristics of the hand due to vibration directed into the hand by a vibrating handle was modeled as a three‐degree‐of‐freedom, mass‐spring‐damper system for vibration in each of three mutually orthogonal directions. The coupling that existed between the three mass elements and the relative values of the different components of the mechanical model correlated very well with the actual coupling and the physical relations that exist between the different layers of tissues in the fingers and hand. The model indicated that the mechanical response of the hand due to hand‐induced vibration was a function of the direction of the vibration relative to the hand and a function of the manner in which the vibrating handle was clasped. The model implied that vibration directed into the hand at frequencies below 100 Hz was transmitted through the different layers of tissues in the hand into the skeletal system and then up the arm. Vibration energy at frequencies above 100 Hz tended to be isolated to the tissued directly in contact with the vibrating handle.