Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is the name given to a range of conditions which are caused by operating hand-held power tools, hand guided
equipment or by holding materials being processed by machines. Initial symptoms include any combination of:
- tingling and numbness in the fingers;
- not being able to feel things properly;
- loss of strength in the hands;
- the fingers going white (blanching) and becoming red and painful on recovery (particularly in the cold and wet, and probably only in the tips at
first).
According to the Health and Safety Executive, some people may experience symptoms after only a few months of exposure whilst for others this process
could take a few years. The symptoms will get worse with continued exposure to vibration and may become worse.
The above symptoms can affect people in the following ways:
- pain, distress and sleep disturbance;
- inability to do fine work (eg assembling small components) or completes everyday tasks (eg fastening buttons);
- reduced ability to work in cold or damp conditions which would trigger painful blanching attacks;
- reduced grip strength which might affect the person's ability to do work safely.
We provide the full range of health surveillance equipment
for hand grip strength and dexterity
In July 2005 the Control of Vibrations at Work Regulations came into force. The regulations required employers
to:
- assess the vibration risk to their employees;
- decide if they are like to be exposed above the daily exposure action value (EAV) and if they are to introduce a programme of controls to eliminate
risk, or reduce exposure to as low a level as is reaonably practical and to provide health surveillance to those employees who
continue to be regularly exposed above the action value or otherwise continue to be at risk;
- decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure limit value (ELV) and if they are to take immediate action
to reduce their exposure below the limit value;
- provide information and training to employees on health risks and the actions being taken to control those risks;
- consult with the trade union representative or the employee representative on the proposals to control risk and to provide health surveillance;
- keep a record of the risk assessment and control actions;
- keep health records for those employees who are under health surveillance;
- review and update the risk assessment regularly.
