Handarm vibration syndrome prevention guide a resource for employers, site supervisors and health and safety representatives what is handarm vibration syndrome havs. Exposure to handarm vibration primarily damages vascular and nerve tissue, typically of the hand and fingers. Vwf is also one of the most common reasons for occupational ill health claims made against employers. There is a cumulative effect of vibration on both the vascular and sensorineural components of havs. Don wasserman, a handarm vibration syndrome consultant and former chief of occupational vibration for niosh, introduces niosh video clips describing the syndromes causes and symptoms. Preventing strains, sprains, and repetitive motion injuries. He told kevin that because it affects blood circulation and nerves, it could lead to tissue damage and may require surgery. Occupational exposure to handarm vibration hav resource produced by acquisition safety, u. The handarm vibration syndrome havs is a painful and potentially disabling condition of the fingers, hands, and arms due to vibration. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, and loss of nerve sensitivity.
Restore immediate circulation to blanched fingers, by putting the hands in warm. These injuries are together called handarm vibration syndrome havs. Chainsaws l hammer drills jackhammers l grinders cutoff saws l impact wrenches jigsaws l reciprocating saws symptoms loss of dexterity and grip strength havs handarm vibration syndrome arm contact your local occupational health professional for more information. Handarm vibration syndrome, which includes raynauds phenomenon arising from vibration exposure, is prescribed under the industrial injuries disablement. Workers using handheld power tools may be exposed to harmful levels of hav. The prevalence of hand arm vibration syndrome in male. This course will give you an understanding of the causes of handarm vibration and the measures you can take to protect yourself from harmful vibration. These tools can cause handarm vibration regardless of whether their power source is electricity, gasoline or air, wasserman said.
Hand arm vibration syndrome definition of hand arm. The latency from the start of exposure to the onset of symptoms was variable due to the heterogeneous nature of exposure to handarm vibration. White fingers, or raynauds syndrome, is a disease of the hands in which the blood vessels in the fingers collapse due to repeated exposure to vibration. A pubmed search was performed for studies relating to. Based on a 1974 study of occupational exposures to vibration, niosh estimates that 1. Further studies are needed on hand arm vibration syndrome regarding the treatment. Vibration is just one cause of raynauds phenomenon. Hand arm vibration syndrome havs refers to a constellation of vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal signs and symptoms that may occur in workers who use handheld vibrating tools, in particular drills, grinders, electrical drills and saws, and jackhammers.
To cut down repetitions with a saw, use one with an aggressive tooth design. Handarm vibration syndrome havs is a common problem due to exposure to handarm vibration from the use of handheld rotating or percussive power tools or hand contact with vibrating work surfaces. This information sheet provides advice on how to manage the risk of handarm vibration hav in the workplace. Too much vibration can damage the blood vessels in your hand and can cause raynauds syndrome or white. Handarm vibration syndrome havs is a collection of sensory, vascular, and musculoskeletal symptoms caused by repetitive trauma from vibration. Cdc niosh publications and products vibration syndrome. Hand arm vibration syndrome havs vibration white finger. Handarm vibration syndrome is a prevalent occupational disease. Frequent exposure to moderate and highintensity hav can cause handarm vibration syndrome havs. However, for many american workers, vibration hazards pose both acute and chronic health problems. Both handheld and stationary tools that transmit vibration through a work piece can cause vibration white fingers or handarm vibration syndrome havs.
Exposure to handarm vibration can result in a condition known as handarm vibration syndrome havs. Occupational exposure to hand arm vibration hav resource produced by acquisition safety, u. Handarm vibration syndrome havs is a permanent and potentially disabling condition. This is most likely when contact with a vibrating tool or process is a. Pdf background it is important to determine how handarm vibration syndrome havs, a common occupational condition, affects quality of life. Handarm vibration syndrome is also known as raynauds phenomenon of occupational origin. Havs is a general term that refers to the damage to nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and joints in the. Navy safety center afloat safety programs office, washington dc vibration exposure in the u. The term havs is a catch all term for a condition made up of symptoms such as blanching that is the fingers turning white and the sensorineural symptoms tingling and numbness in the hands as well as loss of strength in the hands. Havs is a group of diseases caused by exposure of the hands to vibration. It is commonly known as havs and it affects the fingers, hands and arms hence the name. Hand arm vibrations syndrome havs what is hand arm vibration syndrome havs. It can be caused by handheld power tools such as concrete breakers, handguided equipment such as lawn mowers or by holding materials being processed by machines such as pedestal grinders. While it has been known since the beginning of the 20th century that vibration affects the hands and arms, it was not.
Pdf regular exposure to handtransmitted vibration can result in symptoms and signs of peripheral vascular, neurological and other. Vibration white finger vwf, also known as handarm vibration syndrome havs or dead finger, is a secondary form of raynauds syndrome, an industrial injury triggered by continuous use of vibrating handheld machinery. Workers exposed to vibration while carrying out manual tasks may also notice pain in. This case report demonstrates how to diagnose havs. The identification and management of hand arm vibration syndrome. Regular exposure can lead to what is commonly referred to as hand arm vibration syndrome havs. Handarm vibration is transmitted from work processes into workers hands and arms. Typically, workers who filed claims for handarm vibration syndrome developed symptoms in middle age after a decade or more of exposure to handarm vibration. For handarm vibration the elv is a daily exposure of 5 ms2 ab. Regular and frequent exposure to high levels of vibration can lead to permanent injury. If you have been diagnosed with hand arm vibration syndrome there are some treatments available depending on the severity of the condition. It represents a high risk above which employees should not be exposed. Handarm vibration is caused by the use of vibrating handheld tools, such as pneumatic jack hammers, drills, gas powered chain saws, and electrical tools such as grinders.
Handarm vibration exposure common exposure estimated that about 1. Use of the term vibration white finger has generally been superseded in professional usage by broader concept of havs, although it is still used by the. Handarm vibration syndrome can take six months to six years to develop and, after the fingers blanch, the condition is irreversible, according to niosh biomechanical engineer daniel welcome. The prevalence of hand arm vibration syndrome in male dentists. Pdf the effect of handarm vibration syndrome on quality of life. Regular exposure to vibration from hand tools can cause several kinds of permanent injury to hands and arms.
Commonly afflicted occupational groups are shown in box 1. The identification and management of hand arm vibration. Hav handarm vibration havs handarm vibration syndrome hgcz health guidance caution zone. When dealing with certain types of tools and equipment with vibration, there is a risk of developing hand arm vibration syndrome havs. Exposure to hav can result in health effects to the hand and arm including. Hand arm vibration syndrome is a disease that involves circulatory disturbances, sensory and motor disturbances and musculoskeletal disturbances.
Daily exposure to hand and arm vibration by workers who use. Other names such as vibration white finger or dead finger are also used to describe. Carpal tunnel syndrome preventing handarm vibration diseases recommended exposure limits description. Regular occupational exposure to vibrating tools electric, hydraulic, pneumatic or. Main message handarm vibration syndrome is a prevalent occupational disease affecting workers in multiple industries. If the havs condition is very severe it has been known for the symptoms to be irreversible in some cases so it is important to acknowledge the symptoms early so that havs does not worsen. Exposure to handarm vibration occurs when working with airoperated, pneumatic, electric, or power tools. How you can reduce the risk the importance of health surveillance what well cover today. The medical effects of hand arm vibration treatment. Handarm vibration syndrome and risk from motorcycle handlebars. His doctor diagnosed it as raynauds syndrome due to vibration from the tools he uses. Hand arm vibration syndrome is a group of symptoms which accompanies prolong exposure to vibration from the use of handheld vibrating tools.
Handarm vibration syndrome havs or more commonly vibration white finger vwf. Vibration syndrome vibration induced white finger stages. When we think about the hazards of power tools, vibration is not high on our list. Hand arm vibration syndrome havs was commonly referred to as vibration white finger vwf in the past, but 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. A disorder resulting from prolonged exposure to vibration, specifically to the hands and forearms while using vibrating tools. Hav is commonly experienced by people who use jackhammers, chainsaws, grinders, drills, riveters and impact wrenches.
Handarm vibration syndrome canadian family physician. The best known of these is vibration white finger vwf which is caused by the effects of the vibration on the bodys blood circulation. Handarm vibration syndrome havs british columbia medical. Dentists are exposed to high frequency vibration from pneumatic turbine drills. Handarm vibration syndrome havs refers to a constellation of vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal signs and symptoms that may occur in workers who use handheld vibrating tools, in particular drills, grinders, electrical drills and saws, and jackhammers.
The resulting symptom complex is now collectively summarised and internationally acknowledged as handarmvibration syndrome. He noticed that the tips of two of his fingers would turn white and lose feeling. Handarm vibration hav is vibration transmitted into workers hands and arms from work processes such as operating handheld power tools. Other causes are connective tissue diseases, tissue injury, diseases of the blood vessels in the fingers, exposure to vinyl chloride, and the use of certain drugs. Handarm vibration syndrome havs is caused by occupational exposure to. Guide to measuring and assessing hand arm vibration. Handarm vibration syndrome havs occupational skin disease occupational lung and airways disease. Handarm vibration syndrome havs is the collective term for all symptoms that are the result of vibration damages that may occur in the fingers, hands, and arms during repetitive work with vibrating tools or machinery.
Handarm vibration hav is vibration transmitted to a persons hand and arm when using handheld power tools, handguided machinery like powered lawnmowers or while holding materials being processed by plant. By minimising vibration exposure you can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal disorders. Handarm vibration syndrome is a disease that involves circulatory disturbances, sensory and motor disturbances and musculoskeletal disturbances. Hand arm vibration exposure common exposure estimated that about 1. Medical treatment involves the use of antihypertensive medications such as. Daily exposure to hand and arm vibration by workers who use vibrating tools. Hand arm vibration syndrome havs occupational skin disease occupational lung and airways disease. The handarm vibration syndrome sometimes abbreviated to havs causes changes in the sensation of the fingers which can lead to permanent numbness of fingers, muscle weakness and, in some cases, bouts of white finger.