Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) & How To Prevent It

What is Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome?

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome is a set of symptoms that are caused by regularly using vibrating tools or machinery in your work. HAVS causes neurological, musculoskeletal and vascular damages in the arms, fingers and hands.

What are the symptoms of HAVS?

Early signs of HAVS are obvious signs such as not being able to feel things with your fingers. Other common symptoms are the likes of pins and needles or numbness.

HAVS also causes you to feel that your grip strength has reduced, therefore you may struggle to carry heavy objects or grip tightly.

If you regularly work with vibrating tools in cold and wet conditions and you notice your hands or fingers turning white don’t panic. This could be an early sign of HAVS, make sure you get it checked by a professional to confirm.

If things get worse…

As Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome get worse your numbness and lack of a grip may become worse or permanent. Worst-case scenario, your fingers begin to turn black. You may also be in danger of amputation or losing complete use of your hand.

How Do You Stop Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome?

There are a few ways that you can prevent or reduce the risks of HAVS. It is understandable that some workers need to use vibrating tools to conduct their work; therefore it is impractical to completely disregard using them. Take a look at a few ways in which you can reduce the risk of HAVS.

• Job rotation is a great way to keep productivity up and exposure down. If workers consistently switch roles on each worker gets a break from the vibrating tools.
• As technology advances, tools are becoming increasingly better at catering to workers who are at risk of HAVS. Modern tools now have the technology to monitor worker usage and alarms to tell them when to down tools. Construction is now aiming to completely remove vibrating tools and introduce suitable alternatives.
• A professional should regularly assess workers for the early signs of HAVS so that they can be addressed and reported.
•  Regular training is imperative to ensure the safety of any worker on site. You can help reduce the risk of HAVS for yourself and fellow workers if you are aware of the dangers.

Can Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome be cured?

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome can sometimes get better; you need to stop using vibrating tools before it gets too bad. If the symptoms get too bad, they may stay even when you stop using vibrating tools.

Conclusion

Overall, if you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to seek advice from a medical professional and to prioritise your health regardless of your role. It is important to use the PPE recommended to you, PPE is only put in place to protect yourself.

If any accidents do occur, make sure to report this by filling out a RIDDOR report.