HAVS

Hand-arm vibration syndrome

Permanent nerve, blood vessel and joint damage in the hands and arms caused by regular use of vibrating tools, controlled under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations.

Hand-arm vibration syndrome is the collective name for the damage done by years of breakers, grinders, drills, saws and compactors: vibration white finger (blanching, numbness, loss of dexterity), carpal tunnel syndrome and joint pain. It is irreversible, it ends careers in the trades, and it is entirely preventable by limiting exposure. The regulations set a daily exposure action value of 2.5 m/s² A(8), above which the employer must act to reduce exposure and provide health surveillance, and a limit value of 5 m/s² A(8) that must not be exceeded.

The HSE points system makes this usable on site: each tool's vibration magnitude gives points per hour of trigger time (points = 2 × magnitude² × hours), 100 points a day is the action value and 400 the limit. A 5 m/s² grinder gives 50 points an hour, so two hours reaches the action value and eight the limit. Controls follow the usual hierarchy: do the job another way, choose lower-vibration tools, keep them maintained and sharp, rotate the work, limit trigger time, keep hands warm. Anti-vibration gloves are not a control. Health surveillance for anyone regularly above the action value is a legal requirement, not an option.

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