Vibration White Finger, or Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), has been diagnosed in many workers where there job involves working with hand held power tools such as drills and chain saws.
It is thought that the condition is due to the vibrations from the power tools causing minor injuries to the nerves and blood vessels in the hand. These minor injuries then build up over time causing the condition of Vibration White Finger.
The condition may be known more commonly as Vibration White Finger, however, since the symptoms involve much more than simply having white fingers, the name has been altered to a more all encompassing term –Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome. These symptoms can vary in different people, but may include cold sensations in the skin of the fingers with discolouration of the fingers, numbness and/or tingling sensations in the fingers, and general aching in the arms, hands and fingers. In more serious cases the sufferer may experience a complete loss of feeling in the finger which can radiate throughout the hand. These symptoms may come and go or they may be a permanent frustration to the sufferer.
Under The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, employers have a duty to limit their employees’ exposure to vibrations. In order to prevent the development of Vibration White Finger and to protect their employees, employers should implement safety measures. These safety measures can include providing anti-vibration gloves, giving employees utilising vibrating machinery regular breaks, ensuring that machinery is maintained and repaired where needed, ensuring employees are fully trained in the correct way to use and hold tools, and ensuring that employees are using the correct tool for the correct job.
If you think you may be suffering with Vibration White Finger you should seek medical advice from your General Practitioner. You should also report your injury to your employer who may want to stop allocating tasks to you which involve using such tools in order to avoid the condition worsening. You should also seek out a specialist personal injury solicitor who can advise you as to whether you have a claim. It is advisable that you go to a solicitor directly and not through a referral agent as they may simply sell your claim to the highest bidder rather than the person who will give you the best service.
