Hand Arm Vibration Exposure

HAND ARM VIBRATION EXPOSURE - WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS ?

Hand Arm Vibration Exposure:

Hand-arm vibration exposure can directly cause a range of conditions collectively known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), or be a causal factor in specific cumulative trauma disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Identifying signs and symptoms at an early stage is important. It will allow the employer to take action to prevent health effects from becoming serious and permanent injuries for at risk employees. The new HAVex Hand-arm Vibration Monitor is ideal for measuring vibration exposure from a wide variety of sources.

Hand Arm Vibration syndrome is caused when excessive levels of vibration is transmitted from work tools or processes into workers’ hands and arms. It can be caused by operating handheld power tools, such as grinders, saws, drills etc., and other handheld equipment, such as lawnmowers, or even by holding workpieces being processed by machines such as pedestal grinders. Regular and frequent exposure to hand arm vibration can lead to permanent health effects in as little as five years’ time even at levels at or near the allowable exposure limit. Many regulations, exposure guidelines and measurement standards define allowable exposure limits including the ANSI S2.70 and ISO 5349 standards, EU Directive on Vibration Exposure and the ACGIH TLV.

The symptoms can include any combination of:

tingling and numbness in the fingers\

Decrease in tactile ability - being able to feel things properly

loss of strength in the hands; the fingers going white (blanching) and

becoming red and painful on recovery (particularly in cold and wet environments, and usually in the fingertips first)

For some people, symptoms may appear after only a few months of exposure, but for others they may take years. Even at the recommended exposure limit, up to 10% of the workforce may exhibit symptoms of HAVS in as little as 6 years of continuous exposure. Symptoms worsen with continued exposure to vibration and may become permanent and irreversible.

The effects on people include:

pain, distress and sleep disturbance;

inability to do fine work (eg assembling small components) or everyday tasks (eg fastening buttons);

reduced ability to work in cold or damp conditions (ie most outdoor work) which would trigger painful finger blanching attacks;

reduced grip strength which might affect the ability to do work safely.

These effects can severely limit the jobs an affected person is able to do, as well as many family and social activities. Jobs requiring regular and frequent use of vibrating tools and equipment and handling of vibrating materials are found in a wide range of industries, for example:

building and maintenance of roads and railways

general construction

landscaping

forestry and land management

foundries and welding operations

heavy engineering

manufacturing concrete products

mines and quarries

motor vehicle manufacture and repair

public utilities (eg water, gas, electricity, telecommunications)

shipbuilding and repair

There are many different types of handheld power tools and equipment which can cause deleterious health effects from excessive vibration. Some of the more common ones are: