Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

What is Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) ?

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is the modern and collective term for a range of long-term injurJack Hammeries to arms, hands, wrists, fingers or thumbs resulting from prolonged exposure to hand transmitted vibration.

The law states that since the mid 1970′s most employers should have been aware that the use of hand held vibrating tools could cause injury to their employees.

Certain tools are known to create excessive levels of vibration such as, jack hammers, kango hammers, chainsaws, jigger picks, air chisels, windy guns, nut runners, grinders amongst many others.

HAVS can be caused when vibration reaches the hands whilst working with handheld power tools, hand-guided machinery, or by holding materials against a moving surface.

Damage can occur to the circulation and nerve supply to the hands, the symptoms of which include blanching (whitening), numbness, tingling and loss of nerve function.

Symptoms can continue and even present themselves after the employee has ceased using the tools. Such symptoms can are often diagnosed as Vibration White Finger (VWF), Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) or even Raynaud’s Phenomenon.

Statistics show that around five million people may be exposed to hand arm vibration (HAVS) with some two million being regularly exposed at levels where there are foreseeable risks of developing a disease.

Vibration White Finger (VWF), the most well known form of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome or (HAVS), results from damage to the blood circulatory system. Typically, fingers become white when cold and then red and painful when warmed up again.

If you wish to discuss VWF or HAVS then please contact Hilary Meredith Solicitors Ltd