Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, also known as Vibration White Finger, is an industrial disease which is suffered by people in careers which require the use of power tools and machinery which have a vibrating effect. These can include hand held power tools such as drills and chain saws or sewing machines, or pneumatic drills.
The name Vibration White Finger has started to be less commonly used in recent years as it became apparent that the disease involves many more symptoms than having white fingers. The symptoms can also include numbness and/or a tingling sensation in the fingers, cold sensations in the fingers with some discolouration, and general aching up through the hand radiating up the arm. In more serious cases of the disease, the sufferer may have a complete loss of feeling in the fingers which can radiate in to the hands. The symptoms can be different for different people, but for most sufferers, it can be a point of frustration.
The condition is thought to stem from the vibrations in the power tools / machinery causing minor injuries to the blood vessels and nerves in the hand. These injuries then build up to cause Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome.
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 state that employers have a duty to limit their employees’ exposure to vibrations. In order to prevent the development of Hand Arm Syndrome, employers should implement safety measures. These safety measures can include the use of anti-vibration gloves, ensuring that machinery is maintained and repaired where needed in order to minimise vibration as much as possible, ensuring employees are fully trained in the correct way to use and hold tools, giving employees utilising vibrating machinery regular breaks, and ensuring that employees are using the correct tool for the correct job.
If you think you may be suffering from Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, it is important to seek medical assistance as the medic can then make a record of this in your medical notes. You may also want to bring the matter to the attention of your employer who may want to allocate you tasks which do not involve using this machinery, as this may stop the condition worsening. Lastly it is advisable to seek the advice of a specialist personal injury lawyer directly. I say directly as there are many referral firms out there who will simply sell your claim to a firm which may not give you the highest levels of service.
At The Injury Lawyers we work hard on behalf of our clients to get them the best possible amounts of compensation.
