Protecting Workers from HAVS: Understanding the Risks

Protecting workers from hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is critical for today’s construction workers. Understanding exposure limits and vibration risks is key to knowing the severity of the risks associated with working with vibrating tools. Health and safety executives are making efforts to ensure that no one is permanently injured from handheld power tools at work.

Who is at Risk?  Long-Term Health Outcomes for Workers

The average person need not worry about the dangers of consistently working with vibrating tools. The group that is most likely to end up in dangerously close proximity to vibrating tools are construction and demolition workers who depend on those handheld power tools to get their jobs done.

Understanding the risks that are present with these tools is key to protecting workers from negative outcomes that could seriously affect their quality of life and their ability to work. A worker’s hands and arms are key to their ability to perform their tasks well and protecting them from the onset of HAVS with systems, regulations, and procedures, helps to increase productivity, reduce injuries, and boosts morale.

What are the Long Term Health Risks?

Shaun from Principal Power Tools says “There are serious negative consequences to HAVS, many of which have devastating effects that cannot be reversed. Exposure to hand-arm vibration needs to be closely monitored to avoid these serious and painful injuries.”

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A common injury associated with HAVS, carpal tunnel syndrome leads to poor grip strength, numbness and tingling in the fingers, and constant pain in the hands and wrists.

• White Finger

White finger is a side effect of a combination of nerve and vascular damage and can be extremely painful, particularly in cold weather.

• Nerve Damage

Exposure to excessive vibrations from hand tools can cause permanent damage to the nerves in workers’ arms and hands, leading to pain and stiffness, as well as other uncomfortable and inconvenient symptoms.

• Vascular Issues

Vibration also causes damage to the vascular systems of the hands and arms, reducing blood flow and creating both short and long-term health problems for workers with HAVS.

• Joint and Bone Damage

The bones and joints in the hands and arms of workers are also at risk of being damaged due to the force delivered through the direct use of vibrating tools at work.

How are Risks Monitored? 

Since the risk of injury is high and the use of vibrating tools will continue for the foreseeable future, vibration at work regulations were introduced to protect workers and put in place systems to report and monitor exposure to vibration and set in place systems to control that exposure.

• Reporting Systems

Reporting systems are used to monitor the level of vibrations workers are exposed to as well as the length of time that they are exposed. Armed with this information, adjustments can be made when necessary.

• Legislation

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulation of 2005 set in place guidelines and systems to protect workers and legally make employers responsible, ensuring that steps are taken to reduce the number of people injured by vibrating tools while working.

HAVS Risks: Protecting Workers From Harm

Understanding the risks of HAVS helps workers and employers take proper precautions so that everyone can get home safe and healthy. Proper procedures, precautions, and reporting work together to reduce the risks of HAVS for everyone.