Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome – What you need to know!

Demetrious Cooper, our lead training manager at Haswell Training with over 30 years of delivering HAVS courses estimated that around 10,000 workers are diagnosed with HAVS each year in the UK but, the true numbers of affected workers may be higher, as not all cases are diagnosed or reported, 

HAVS is mainly caused by prolonged exposure to hand-arm vibration, which can then damage blood vessels, nerves and joints. Common sources of vibration include:

• Power tools (e.g. drills, grinders, chainsaw)

• Pneumatic tools

• Mechanical equipment such as lawnmowers and jackhammers

Signs and Symptoms of HAVS:

HAVS typically develops in stages, with symptoms becoming more severe over time if exposure continues without intervention. 

The early stages:

This includes numbness and tingling in the fingers, a reduction in blood flow causing fingers to turn pale, cold, or white (particularly in cold weather). It also can reduce grip strength and make handling tools or objects more difficult.

Intermediate stage:

If HAVS is not immediately treated, symptoms can progress into becoming more acute, with more frequent or intense episodes of numbness as well as blanching of the fingers. This can lead to symptoms persisting even when not exposed to vibration. 

Advanced stage:

If treatment is still neglected, HAVS can develop into permanent damage to blood vessels, nerves, and muscles. This can cause a loss of feeling or sensation in the fingers, chronic pain, stiffness and muscle weakness in the hand and arm and inability to perform fine motor tasks such as holding a pen or using hand tools effectively.

The risks of ignoring HAVS:

Leaving HAVS untreated can lead to permanent disability, affecting your ability to work and perform daily tasks as well as increase the risks of circulatory problems, nerve damage, and/or musculoskeletal issues. Early intervention is crucial to prevent irreversible damage, and so if symptoms appear you should contact your doctor immediately. There are several ways to manage the early signs of HAVS syndrome, including medication to help manage the pain and inflammation, physical therapy or rehabilitation exercises, and advice on lifestyle changes including avoiding cold environments and smoking which can worsen blood flow issues.

What if I get HAVS but I need to work?

If you are diagnosed with HAVS but need to continue working, it is essential to manage both your health and your work tasks carefully. Here are some steps you can take:

Consult a doctor: It is crucial to have a healthcare professional, particularly one with expertise in occupational health to monitor your condition. They can assess the severity of HAVS, guide treatments and help decide whether you can continue working with modifications. 

Medical Management: Depending on the stage of HAVS, treatment might include medications for managing symptoms, physiotherapy, or lifestyle changes to reduce vascular stress.

Workplace Adjustments: If possible, request adjustments to your job to reduce your exposure to vibration. This might involve switching equipment with lower vibration emissions and rotating between tasks to minimise the time you spend using vibrating tools. 

Use Protective Equipment: Wearing anti-vibration gloves which are designed to reduce the transmission of vibrations can help protect your hands.

Implement Regular Breaks: Taking frequent breaks can help minimise the duration of exposure. Haswell recommends taking a 10 minute break every hour.

However, if HAVS becomes more severe and you can continue with your previous roles, a rehabilitation program may be necessary to help manage the condition and potentially transition to other types of work. In extreme cases, where HAVS severely impacts your ability to work with vibrating tools, it may be necessary to consider transitioning to a job that doesn't involve vibration exposure. 

How site managers can prevent HAVS syndrome:

Risk Assessments – Employers should assess the level of vibration exposure in the workplace and identify high-risk activities or equipment

Provision of protective equipment – Anti-vibration gloves and tool attachments can reduce vibration exposure, although they do not eliminate the risk 

Implement safe workplace practices – reducing the amount of time workers are exposed to vibration by rotating tasks or providing rest periods

Maintenance of tools and equipment – ensuring tools and machinery are well-maintained to minimise vibration levels using specialised equipment such as a accelerometer, this device is used to measure vibration levels and can detects acceleration which converts the three dimensions and converts this into a measurable signal that can be recorded and analysed.

Health monitoring – Regular monitoring of worker’s health, especially those regularly exposed to vibration, as early detection of HAVS allows for intervention before permanent damage occurs. This can be done using regular use of risk assessments.

Training – Everyone using HAVS should be trained on the risks of vibration exposure and how to recognise early signs of HAVS. Having employees undertake a complete course on Hand arm vibration at work can significantly mitigate the risk of HAVS.

Legal Requirements:

In the UK, Hand Arm Vibration (HAVS) is governed by a combination of Health and Safety regulations designed to protect workers from harmful effects of vibration exposure. The key level requirements of HAVS are:

This information can be found on the following HSE link: Hand-arm vibration - L140

How Haswell Training can help you to prevent HAVS

Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome is a preventable but serious occupational condition. Employers and Employees must work together to minimize the risk of vibration exposure, ensuring early detection of symptoms and putting in place protective measures to prevent long-term health effects. At Haswell Training we provide a half-day HAVS course where you will cover the laws, legislation and regulations, the health effects and sources of Hand Arm Vibration, How to recognize and report symptoms, the risk factors, changes to working practices and the correct techniques for equipment use. www.haswelltraining.co.uk/courses/hand-arm-vibration