What is Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)?
Hand-arm vibration is transmitted into workers’ hands and arms via the use of hand-held power tools (such as grinders & impact drills) in fact it could be transmitted from any item of powered hand-held equipment that generates vibration.
Vibration may also be transmitted through a material that is being held while being hand-fed into equipment (such as pedestal grinders, linishers & bench saws), or being held while being worked on by someone else who is using a vibrating tool.
Regular or frequent use of vibrating hand-held equipment can cause two forms of permanent ill-health, known as:
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
- Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)
What are the Symptoms?
People affected by HAVS may experience –
- tingling and numbness in the fingers,
- loss of strength in the hands which might affect the ability to do work safely
- the fingers going white (blanching) and becoming red and painful on recovery
People affected by CTS may experience –
- tingling, numbness, pain and weakness in the hand
Other symptoms include:
- Loss of feeling and/or pins and needles in one or more fingers
- Aches and pains in joints, muscles and bones
- Reduced dexterity and grip strength
Symptoms of both may be intermittent, but with continued exposure to vibration they may become prolonged or permanent, cause pain & distress and interrupt sleep patterns.
What is required by The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
- make sure that risks from vibration are controlled;
- provide information, instruction and training to employees on the risk and the actions being taken to control risk; and
- provide suitable health surveillance.
What is D&M doing?
D&M control the risks from vibration by;
- Identifying who is at risk
- provide information, instruction and training to employees on the risk and the
actions being taken to control risk; and
- provide suitable health surveillance.
- Purchasing ‘low’ vibration tools whenever possible, using manufacturers’ vibration tables.
- Reducing the time spent holding vibrating equipment or work-pieces. which in turn and combined with purchasing of ‘Low’ vibration tools will reduce the vibration transmitted to the hand,
Employers’ have a duty to reduce the risks from vibration to the lowest level reasonably practicable and to reduce exposure to as low as is reasonably practicable if it is above the Exposure Action Value (EAV). You must not allow exposures to exceed the Exposure Limit Value (ELV). For more information on calculating HAVS, EAVs & ELVs see link . https://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/calculator-guide.htm
Compliance with COVR 2005 will prevent disability from HAVS and vibration-related CTS. Not everyone will develop the signs or symptoms of HAVS or CTS even at low exposures. Health surveillance should identify any harm early on, enabling appropriate action to be taken at this point which will prevent disability.
General duties of employees at work – HASAWA 1974 sec 7
It shall be the duty of every employee while at work—
(a) to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work; and
(b) as regards any duty or requirement imposed on his employer or any other person by or under any of the relevant statutory provisions, to co-operate with him so far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with.
D&M employees fully co-operate with their employer by,
- Completing an initial OH HAVS questionnaire, & annually thereafter
- attending OH Surveillance appointments
- wearing HAV monitors
- not exceeding the EAV/ELV
- Rotating the job/task to reduce exposure
Preventative Measures and Best Practices
There are several ways to prevent HAVS in the workplace some of which have already been noted. One way is to keep employees warm, which is key as the cold can worsen the vibrations. Another is to use a HAVS monitoring device, D&M use HAVSense monitors which record the vibration dosage straight from the hand and reports highly accurate data to the computer system. Keep tools and equipment in good working order to prevent high vibration levels, provide training for the proper usage of tools and equipment.
What to do if Symptoms appear?
If symptoms of HAVS appear, the first thing you must do as an employee is consult a doctor and inform your employer about your symptoms. Your employer must know immediately so they can put measures in place to reduce your exposure to vibrations.
Other things you can do to help reduce the impact of the symptoms are keep your hands warm, stop smoking, to maintain good blood circulation, use anti-vibration gloves (if suitable), and ensure all tools are properly maintained and stored correctly to keep them warm and dry. It’s also worth considering physical therapy and medications to help manage the symptoms.
Information provided by D&M Design & Fabrication Ltd. Please note that the information provided is not inclusive nor exhaustive.
Information gathered from publications:
* INDG175 (rev3)
* HASAWA 1974
* COVR 2005