HAVS (hand arm vibration) medical

Could your employees be at risk of developing Hand and Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)? A collective term for disabling symptoms that can occur from using hand-operated vibrating tools on a daily basis, HAVS can be extremely painful and serious – and once the damage is done, it is permanent. Some people still refer to this condition as ‘vibration white finger’, but HAVS is now the recognised medical term. In severe cases, HAVS is serious and disabling, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimates that nearly two million people are at risk. Damage from HAVS can include the inability to do fine, delicate work, and it is acknowledged that the loss of feeling and numbness is not only more disabling than the painful finger blanching (‘white finger’), but it is also irreversible. However, HAVS is preventable if detected early, which is why it is crucial for employers to assess and manage this risk.