Stay aware of vibration levels and understand how to reduce the risk

What is HAVS?

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is a painful and debilitating condition caused by exposure to vibration, affecting the blood vessels, nerves, and joints. You may also hear it referred to as “Trigger Finger” by those in the trade.

Anyone working with power tools, such as stone fabricators, can be at risk of HAVS if they don’t take steps to reduce vibration exposure. However, the good news is that HAVS can be preventable using the right precautions. Importantly, once the damage is done, it cannot be reversed – so it’s sensible to stay safe by being aware of the risks and how you can avoid them.

The injuries range from neurological, vascular or musculoskeletal. Neurological injuries can severely impact hand function, making everyday tasks challenging. Vascular injuries affect the blood vessels in the hands and fingers, which can cause whitening and spasms, often made worse by cold weather. Musculoskeletal injuries can reduce the strength of your grip, your mobility and cause pain in your arms and hands.

How can Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome be prevented?

HAVS can be prevented in a variety of ways. Putting in place engineering controls, administrative controls, personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe work practices all contribute to a less likely chance of suffering from HAVS.

1. Tool Use Controls

• Use low-vibration tools designed to minimise vibration levels.
• Regularly maintain and service tools to ensure efficient operation with minimal vibration.
• Put anti-vibration handles or damping materials on tools to reduce exposure.
• If you can, automate processes to reduce the need for manual tool use.

2. Safer Work Practices

• Use tools correctly avoiding too much force
• Keep a relaxed grip to reduce the amount of vibration transmitted to your hands
• Properly check your tools before use, to make sure theyre in good condition and functioning properly
• Make sure your environment is safe and comfortable, avoiding cold conditions

3. Administrative Controls

• Rotate jobs to limit the time individuals spend using the power tools
• Schedule regular breaks to reduce exposure to vibration
• Provide training on the risks of vibration and share techniques to reduce vibration transmission
• Regularly carry out health checks to catch any early signs of HAVS

4. Personal Protective Equipment

• Use gloves designed to help reduce vibration from being transmitted to the hands
• Keep hands warm to improve the circulation of blood

5. Compliance and Record Keeping

• Keep to the working exposure limits for hand-arm vibration, as specified by relevant health and safety regulations. In the UK, the HSE guidelines specify an exposure action value of 2.5 m/s² A(8) and an exposure limit value of 5.0 m/s² A(8), which should not be exceeded.
• Keep a close eye on regulations and make records of assessments, actions and health check-ups.

What are the legal implications for stone fabricators?

As an employer, you are directly responsible for carrying out appropriate assessments and staying aware of the health and wellbeing of your employees; to help mitigate the risk of them developing this syndrome. If you fail to do so, it could result in significant fines and ultimately put your company and workforce at risk.

If you employ or manage workers in the stone industry who use power tools, it is crucial to promptly address several key points to ensure their safety and compliance with regulations. Start by evaluation the vibration risk associated with their tasks and implement relevant measures to reduce this risk. Ensure that the legal limits on vibration exposure are not exceeded and provide employees with information and training on the risks which surround it, how to spot early warning signs and the protective measures to put in place.

As tedious as it may seem, its important to carry out regular health checks for employees at risk and consult with your company’s safety representative on how to properly deal with any issues. Finally, try to keep up to date records of assessments, actions and health checks, and regularly review and update your safety processes, for maximum employee protection.

Uncertain about how Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome could impact you or your employees? Our experts are here to help. You can reach them on +44 (0) 1482 620400 or via email at [email protected].

With over three decades of experience advising stone fabricators, we take pride in ensuring our customers work in safe environments and we’re ready to provide you with expert advice and solutions. You can find more information on HAVS and other Health & Safety issues facing stone fabricators in the Safe in Stone area of our website.

For more detailed information, including case studies and additional guides for both employers and employees, you can visit the HSE website: http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/regulations.htm.