Understanding and Preventing Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

What does HAVS stand for? Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome, a condition that can affect workers doing prolonged work with power tools. Years of this exposure cause HAVS, and it may take years after the work to present symptoms. Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome leads to serious long-term nerve, blood vessel, muscle, and bone damage and is incurable — but it is preventable.

But what is hand-arm vibration? It is vibration transmitted through someone’s hands and arms as they perform work with vibrating tools or equipment.

You can find risks for developing Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome in many industries, work tasks, and methods of performing those tasks.

People at the greatest risk for developing HAVS are those who regularly use vibrating equipment and power tools, such as:

• Impact drivers
• Chainsaws
• Angle grinders
• Power sanders
• Handheld drills
• Demolition hammers

These come up in all types of heavy industry:

• Automotive
• Mining
• Construction
• Manufacturing
• Utilities

Not everyone using those tools in those industries is doomed to HAVS, but certain factors in this work affect their risk:

• Work duration and frequency
• Working posture and grip
• Tool ergonomics
• Tool maintenance
• Tool vibration intensity
• Hardness of the material worked on
• Worker health history and vibration sensitivity

Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome symptoms appear in the nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and bones.

Nervous Symptoms: Nerve damage from HAVS can cause numbness, tingling, and a loss of dexterity, making tasks like handling small hardware difficult. This numbness can eventually become permanent.

Musculoskeletal Symptoms: Vibration damage to muscles and bones can cause pain, soreness, and a general loss of strength and grip. Muscles can atrophy as HAVS progresses to its worst states.

Circulatory Symptoms: Under prolonged vibration, the hand’s capillaries can shrink, which constricts blood flow and can cause blanching.

Now, what is vibration white finger? It is a major HAVS symptom of reduced blood flow, though it is also a subset of Raynaud syndrome — not all cases of which are vibration-related.

Symptoms of vibration white finger primarily include the tendency of zones of the fingers or hands to turn white or even blue in cold conditions, along with numbness, tingling, and reduced hand or arm strength. As years go on, milder temperatures can trigger vibration white finger if the hands are wet.

Vibration white finger syndrome was an earlier term for HAVS, but HAVS symptoms are now known to be broader than vibration white finger — though this term remains in general use.

Just like with sitting or standing, posture can affect long-term health and comfort. Good posture practices for Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome prevention include:

• Holding tools loosely (though safely) rather than rigidly.
• Regularly changing your stance and the way you hold tools—always while keeping your posture comfortable, though.

You can also take other proactive health measures for HAVS prevention, such as avoiding things that can harm your blood circulation like smoking or certain medications.

A vibrating tool’s operating environment also factors into Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome risk. Measures to minimise that include:

• Keeping working spaces warm, dry, and wind-protected to promote blood circulation.
• Setting workpieces and workbenches at comfortable, accessible heights.
• Using jigs and suspension systems to avoid uncomfortable, awkward worker positions.
• Placing signage reminding workers of the importance of minimising vibration exposure.

One of the best personal protective equipment (PPE) measures you can take in HAVS prevention is to protect your hands, arms, and core from the elements. Using vibrating tools in cold, wet, or windy conditions presents significant Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome risk since this reduces circulation. Make sure your work gloves and other work clothing keep you in safe, comfortable temperatures and airflow (and unconstrained from performing your tasks).