Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

The experts in Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) claims

Oakwood Solicitors has a dedicated team of Solicitors and legal professionals, specialising in Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome claims. With a strong reputation for being tough on defendants, we’re sure to recover the compensation you deserve.

What is Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)?

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is an occupational health issue usually caused by working with vibrating tools. It can cause symptoms in the hands, fingers and arms, including the loss of feeling, pins and needles or numbness.

Although it is not clear how the vibration causes the condition, it is thought that the vibration causes slight but repeated injuries to the nerves and blood vessels in the fingers and hands.

According to statistics, around one in 10 people who work with vibrating tools may develop HAVS.

It is a preventable condition, but damage can be permanent if these tools are not handled correctly. It is thought that the frequent use of these kinds of tools, without the correct protections could cause HAVS after around 10 years of regular use.

If you are suffering from Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome due to working with vibrating tools at work you may be entitled to may a claim against your employer.

Vibration White Finger (VWF)

Vibration White Finger can be another term used to describe HAVS.

However, it was discovered that the symptoms associated with the condition were not solely confined to the fingers so the vibration white finger term was superseded by the more accurate hand arm vibration term, but the same causes and regulations apply.

Symptoms of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome and Vibration White Finger

Tingling and numbness in the fingers (which can cause sleep disturbance).
Not being able to feel things with your fingers.
Loss of strength in your hands (you may be less able to pick up or hold heavy objects).
In the cold and wet, the tips of your fingers going white then red and being painful on recovery (vibration white finger)

If you continue to use high-vibration tools these symptoms will probably get worse. For example:

The numbness in your hands could become permanent and you won’t be able to feel things at all;
You will have difficulty picking up small objects such as screws or nails;
The vibration white finger could happen more frequently and affect more of your fingers

What causes Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)?

It is thought that the regular use of hand-held vibrating tools can cause HAVS. Some of the common tools which can cause HAVS include the following:

Chainsaws
Concrete breakers/road breakers
Cut-off saws (for stone etc.)
Hammer drills
Hand-held grinders
Impact wrenches
Jigsaws
Needle scalers
Pedestal grinders
Polishers
Power hammers and chisels
Powered lawn mowers
Powered sanders
Scabblers
Strimmers/brush cutters.

You are particularly at risk if you regularly operate:

Hammer action tools for more than about 15 minutes per day; or
Some rotary and other action tools for more than about one hour per day.

Jobs with a higher risk of HAVS and Vibration White Finger

Some jobs have a higher risk of workers developing HAVS. According to HSE, this includes the following:

Building and maintenance of roads and railways
Construction
Estate management (e.g. maintenance of grounds, parks, water courses, road and Railside verges)
Forestry
Foundries
Heavy engineering
Manufacturing concrete products
Mines and quarries
Motor vehicle manufacture and repair
Public utilities (e.g. water, gas, electricity, telecommunications)
Shipbuilding and repair

How to protect yourself from HAVS and Vibration White Finger

Your employer is responsible for protecting you against HAVS, but you should help to prevent it by asking your employer if there is a way your job can be done differently – without using vibrating tools. If this cannot happen:

Ask to use suitable low-vibration tools.
Always use the right tool for each job (to do the job more quickly and expose you to less hand-arm vibration).
Check tools before using them to make sure they have been properly maintained and repaired to avoid increased vibration caused by faults or general wear.
Make sure cutting tools are kept sharp so that they remain efficient.
Reduce the amount of time you use a tool in one go, by doing other jobs in between.
Avoid gripping or forcing a tool or workpiece more than you have to.
Store tools so that they do not have very cold handles when next used.
Encourage good blood circulation by:
- Keeping warm and dry (when necessary, wear gloves, a hat, waterproofs and use heating pads if available);
- Giving up or cutting down on smoking because smoking reduces blood flow; and
- Massaging and exercising your fingers during work breaks.

What else can I do?

Learn to recognise the early signs and symptoms of HAVS.
Report any symptoms promptly to your employer or the person who does your health checks.
Use any control measures your employer has put in place to reduce the risk of HAVS.
Ask your trade union safety representative or employee representative for advice.

How will I get diagnosed with HAVS or Vibration White Finger?

Difficulties can occur because symptoms constituting the syndrome can arise for constitutional reasons and there is no objective test to establish presence of syndrome.

Diagnosis, therefore, involves a three-stage process:

Excluding other medical causes (such a Raynaud’s phenomenon).
Assessing work history and history of exposure.
An appropriate description of symptoms by the Claimant, consistent with Vibration White Finger.

HAVS rules and regulations at work

Your employer has a duty to protect workers and ensure you have a safe place of work, with safe machinery and a safe system of work.

The Health and Safety Executive has also published guidelines in regards to how much vibration workers should be exposed to.

If your employer does not follow the regulations and you become ill as a result, they could be found to be negligent and a claim could be made against them. Employers must adhere to the following laws and regulations:

Health and Safety Act 1974

Every employer has a duty so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure the safety and welfare of employees.
Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

Duty to undertake adequate risk assessment (Reg. 3)
The requirement to undertake health surveillance (Reg. 6)

Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

Exposure action value of 2.5 m/s² A(8) at which level employers should introduce technical and organisational measures to reduce exposure.

Exposure limit value of 5.0 m/s²A(8) which should not be exceeded.

HSE - HAVS calculator

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has created a calculator so you can work out your level of exposure to vibration.

The regulations require employers to make an assessment of exposure in order to identify whether the ‘exposure action value’ or the ‘exposure limit value’ is likely to be exceeded.

The ‘exposure action value’ is the daily level, after which employers are required to take action to control exposure.

The ‘exposure limit value’ is the maximum amount that an employee can be exposed to in a day. The values are measured using a formula which works out the average (A) exposure over an 8-hour day.

To access the vibration calculator, visit the HSE website.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make a claim?

If you have read the above and feel that you may be suffering from any of the symptoms of vibration white finger or hand-arm vibration syndrome whilst exposed to vibration at work, contact us to speak to our dedicated Industrial Disease team.

In order to run the majority of Personal Injury claims, you have to have started the claim within three years of the injury.

However, with Industrial Disease claims, it may be that the injury started over a period of time and was only diagnosed within the last three years. We will be able to clarify this for you.

Will I lose my job if I make a claim?

If you are still working for the employer where you believe you have been exposed to vibration, they cannot dismiss you for making or proposing to make a claim.

If your employer attempts to do so, then you are likely able to make a successful unfair dismissal claim.

In our experience, the high majority of insurers understand their duties owed to you and the right you have to pursue a claim for vibration white finger or hand-arm vibration syndrome if this duty has been breached.

In the majority of matters, the claim will normally be transferred from the Defendant directly to their insurer, and it will be the insurer who deals with the Defending of the action.

Why should I choose Oakwood Solicitors Ltd?

Oakwood Solicitors Ltd agrees to work on your Industrial Disease claim on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis. If your claim is unsuccessful, you will not be expected to pay us a penny.

If you are successful in your claim, we take a percentage of the compensation meaning that the only time we will receive money is if we have brought your claim to a fruitful conclusion.

You will have a dedicated advisor who will see your claim through from start to finish, assisting you in the event of any queries or issues you may have.

If it is preferable to you, we are able to assign a female advisor to carry out your claim. Your case handler will also continue to provide regular updates until the conclusion of your claim, ensuring the process is as stress-free and effortless as possible.

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Very happy with the treatment we received from Oakwood Solicitors. We were kept informed on a regular basis. Very friendly and informative.

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Brilliant service from start to finish. Can’t speak more highly of Natasha Hardy who handled my case. Would recommend without a second thought

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Natasha Hardy - Solicitor and Head of Department

Natasha Hardy is a Solicitor specialising in Industrial Disease matters and has experience in handling a wide range of cases including claims for Noise-Induced Hearing Loss & Tinnitus, Hand/Arm Vibration Syndrome & Vibration White Finger, Work Related Upper Limb Disorders, Occupational Dermatitis, Asbestosis, Respiratory & Chest Conditions and Lung Disease.