Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is a hazard for many employees across a variety of industries. HAVS occurs when vibration from a work process is transmitted to operator’s hands and forearms by tooling. Regular, frequent, long-term exposure can lead to HAVS. This is particularly evident in foundries, construction, and heavy steel fabrication. HAVS can be controlled if caught early, but the condition may become permanent if the disease progresses.

What is Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)?

‘HAVS is a collection of sensory, vascular, and musculoskeletal symptoms caused by repetitive trauma from vibration’ (source: Hand-arm vibration syndrome: A rarely seen diagnosis – PMC (nih.gov))

The rate of acceleration of the tool or object grasped by the worker determines the level of hand-arm vibration that occurs.

HAVS causes painful symptoms in fingers, hands, and arms, because of regularly using vibrating tools, such as power drills, pneumatic drills, chain saws, grinders and working with vibrating machinery.

It is unknown how the vibration causes the issues, but it is thought that the vibration causes slight but repeated injuries to the small nerves and blood vessels in the fingers, which over time gradually lose some of their function and cause symptoms. Up to 1 in 10 people who work regularly with vibrating tools may develop HAVS. (source www.patient.info)

Symptoms of HAVS?

HAVS can lead to painful and disabling disorders of the blood vessels, nerves, joints and muscles of the hands and arm. Symptoms include:

• Blanching or whitening of fingertips after cold or damp exposure (Raynaud’s phenomenon – or commonly known as white finger.)
• Numbness and/or tingling occurring either before or after blanching, may lead to permanent numbness.
• Cyanosis (bluish discolouration) of the skin on fingers and hands.
• Decrease in grip strength and sustainable muscle power.
• Reduction in pain perception and sense of touch.
• Muscular aches and pains in hands and lower arms.
• Difficulty in completing tasks that involve fine motor skills

How do I know if I have HAVS?

If your symptoms match with the above and you have a history of having worked with vibrating tools regularly over a long period, it is most likely you have HAVS. However, an occupational health check to test grip strength, hand movements and response to the cold, can confirm this.

How to prevent Hand-Arm Vibration System (HAVS) as an employer

HAVS is recognised as an occupational disease and employers are required by law under ‘The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005’ to assess the risk of exposure to vibration to all employees.

The purpose of the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 is to make sure that people do not suffer damage to their health from hand-arm vibration – so preventative measures are the first action to consider.

A few examples include:

1. Use alternative work methods wherever possible.
2. Plan work to avoid prolonged periods of vibration exposure.
3. Ensure old/worn out equipment is replaced.
4. Conduct regular maintenance schedules (further details here Proper equipment maintenance – why it’s important! (sentinelsafety.co.uk)
5. Provide proper, warm clothing to employees.
6. Modify tools with anti-vibration handles etc.

Further preventative measures can be found here Hand arm vibration – Control the risks (hse.gov.uk)

HAVs can sometimes get better when use of vibrating tools is stopped early enough, but in most cases, it leads to disability, occupation difficulties and poor quality of life. Testing is extremely important as ‘Reports reveal that HAVS is the most common disease reported under RIDDOR’ (source: London Pain Clinic).

Employers must be aware of the risks of HAVS and disclose any risk of HAVS to employees before they commence work.

How we can help

If you would like more information on HAVS, risk assessments or would like to organise testing, please contact us on 01527 833834 or email info@sentinelsafety.co.uk