Avoiding Vibration White Finger

Vibration white finger is a repetitive strain injury that evolves into a permanent disease. It is a component of the broader disease Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). It is a disease that affects industrial workers; affecting the blood vessels, nerves, muscles and joints of the hand wrist and arm. There are currently twenty five million people at risk, and over five are exposed to dangerous levels of vibrations.

The Cause

Using vibrating hand tools such as chainsaws, hammer drills, road drills, grinders, riveting hammers, and even powered strimmers and lawnmowers, can cause Vibration White Finger. Workers such as carpenters, joiners, electricians, plumbers and maintenance workers are all at risk as well as builders and construction workers.

The Effects

The effects of Vibration White Finger get worse the longer and more frequently the arm is exposed to vibration. It begins as a tingling or numbness in the tips of the fingers, and can end with the entire finger tingling and going white.

Fingers can also change colour when exposed to the cold. The fingers go white and all feeling is lot. This is then followed by a red flush and uncomfortable throbbing as the blood returns to the fingers.

As well as this, considerable pain and loss of movement in the fingers can also occur. In very extreme instances fingers may be lost completely. There are over one million people suffering from advanced symptoms.  

What Tool Manufacturers Are Doing

As there is no known cure, prevention is the only way to improve the situation. Tool manufacturers are trying to improve their tools by designing them to emit lower vibration and will be less likely to contract Vibration White Finger and HAVS. Manufacturers are legally required to provide you with warnings of any residual risks from vibration, as well as information on vibration levels and how to avoid equipment to minimise risk of Vibration White Finger.

What Employers Are Doing

As an employer it is within your duty to protect your employees from harm, so you should therefore provide suitable equipment, maintain it properly, and train your employees properly on use and health and safety risks of the equipment. Look for alternative ways of working that will avoid using vibrating equipment, and make sure that if they have to use it make sure that your employees use the most appropriate equipment for the job. Use job rotation so that individuals aren’t using the equipment for a long period of time.  Make sure that your employees are aware of Vibration White Finger and its health effects and how to recognise it, the potential sources and how to minimise risk.

If there is a risk of exposure to vibration, then employers are required by law to assess the exposure levels, minimise the exposure, provide information and training and provide health checks.