Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), or Vibration White Finger as it can also be known, is a condition which affects many peoples’ lives. The Health and Safety Executive report that the number of new cases of Vibration White Finger (VWF) assessed for Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit was 850 in 2008/09 alone.
HAVS affects those people whose work exposes them to vibrations on a prolonged basis. To give an idea of those sectors of industry which are hit worst by this condition, the HSE have undertaken a survey. In this survey they found that between 2007 and 2009 it was in industry involving extraction for energy and water supply that assessments for HAVS was by far the highest, with the construction industry coming in second, and the manufacturing industry in third.
It can be seen from this that it is mainly manual workers that are more likely to suffer from the condition. This is because it is the use of vibrating machinery such as chain saws or pneumatic drills which can cause the problem. The prolonged period of vibrations to the hands causes damage to blood vessels, nerves and joints which can cause the following symptoms:
- Tingling/numbness in the fingers
- Aching through the finger and even up through the arms
- In more serious cases, there can be a complete loss of feeling in the fingers, and even up into the hand.
Employers have a duty to protect their employees from risks to their health and safety. These duties are encapsulated within The Control of Vibrations at Work Regulations 2005. The full details of this act would be far too much to get into in this blog – it is noteworthy however as employers with employees using vibrating machinery should have a good knowledge of the act and injuries that can occur.
Employers can take all sorts of preventative measures in order to minimise the risk, as far as is practicably possible, of their employees getting HAVS. These measures can include issuing Personal Protective Equipment such as anti-vibration gloves, and giving their employees regular breaks, whilst also diversifying their work as much as possible. Employers should also ensure that workers are using the correct equipment for the correct job and that all machinery is maintained regularly and stored properly.
If you have been diagnosed with HAVS and you feel that your employers could have done something to prevent it, you may have a claim for personal injury. If this is the case then feel free to give us a call to find out more about it.
