Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

Health Effects

HAVS is a term covering a range of ailments as well as specific conditions such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The health effects can be seen early on, and the impact of the symptoms worsen over time if preventative measures are not put in place.

HAVS is preventable, but once the damage is done it is permanent.

Early Symptoms

Some symptoms might only occasionally cause you problems but if ignored and your exposure to vibration isn’t controlled, they are likely to occur more often, become worse and eventually permanent.

The HAVS symptoms include,

• Tingling and numbness in the fingers;
• Not being able to feel things properly;
• Loss of strength in the hands;
• Fingers turning white (blanching) and becoming red and painful on recovery (particularly in the cold and wet, and usually in the tips at first).

Permanent Symptoms

With continued exposure to vibration, symptoms will become more serious and remember, the damage is irreversible.

• Permanent numbness – total loss of feeling in the hands and fingers. You may have difficulty pushing buttons and find you drop things more often.
• Loss of grip – picking up small objects becomes difficult, due to the numbness and the loss of strength in the hands.
• Advanced vibration white finger

The impact of HAVS on individuals can mean pain, distress and sleep disturbance as well as an inability to do everyday tasks (eg fastening buttons). It will affect an individual’s ability to work in cold or damp conditions (ie most outdoor work) which would trigger painful finger blanching attacks. Combined with potentially reduced grip strength, these effects can severely limit the work an affected person is able to do, and this also includes family and social activities.

Further advice and guidance is available at the following links

https://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/yourhands.htm

https://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/advicetoemployers/index.htm