HAND-ARM

VIBRATION
SYNDROME
Pocket card for employees
What is hand-arm
vibration syndrome?
Hand-arm vibration syndrome
(HAVS):
■ is a disorder which affects the
blood vessels, nerves, muscles
and joints of the hand, wrist and
arm;
■ can become severely disabling
if ignored; and
■ its best known form is vibration
white finger (VWF), which can
be triggered by cold or wet
weather and can cause severe
pain in the affected fingers.
What are the signs to look
out for?
■ Tingling and numbness in the
fingers.
■ In the cold and wet, fingers go
white, then blue, then red and
are painful.
■ You can't feel things with your
fingers (you'll have difficulty
picking up small objects such as
screws or nails).
■ Pain, tingling or numbness in
your hands, wrists and arms
which may stop you sleeping.
■ Loss of strength in hands (you
may be unable to pick up or
hold heavy objects).
Symptoms will probably get
worse if you continue to use
high-vibration tools a lot.
Who is at risk?
You are at risk if you regularly use
hand-held powered tools such as:
■ concrete breakers, chipping
hammers, jigger picks;
■ vibrating pokers;
■ sanders, angle grinders;
■ vibratory compactors;
■ hammer drills, jigsaws;
■ scabblers, needle guns.

How can I prevent it?

It is your employer's responsibility
to protect you against HAVS, but
you can:
■ ask your employer if your job
could be done in a different way
without using vibrating tools;
■ use a low-vibration tool;
■ always use the right tool for the
job;
■ check tools before using them
to make sure they have been
 properly maintained and repaired
to avoid vibration caused by
faults and general wear;
■ make sure cutting tools are kept
sharp;
■ reduce the amount of time you
use the tool in one go, by doing
other jobs in between;
■ avoid gripping or forcing the
tools more than you have to;
■ store tools correctly so that
they do not have very cold
handles when next used;
■ encourage good blood
circulation by:
● keeping warm and dry (wear
gloves, hats, waterproofs
and use proprietary heating
pads if available);
● giving up or cutting down on
smoking as smoking reduces
blood flow;
● massaging and exercising your
fingers during work breaks.
What else can I do?
■ Learn to recognise the signs of
vibration injury.
■ Report any symptoms promptly
to your employer.
■ Tell your doctor about any
symptoms.
■ Ask your health and safety
representative for advice.
■ Use any control measures your
employer has put in place to
reduce the risk of vibration
injury.

Further information
For more information on this
subject see HSE's free leaflet
Health risks from hand-arm
vibration: Advice for employees
and the self-employed INDG126
HSE Books 1998.
HSE priced and free publications are
available by mail order from HSE Books,
PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2WA
Tel: 01787 881165 Fax: 01787 313995
Website: www.hsebooks.co.uk (HSE priced
publications are also available from
bookshops and free leaflets can be
downloaded from HSE’s website:
www.hse.gov.uk.)

For information about health and safety ring

HSE’s Infoline Tel: 08701 545500
Fax: 02920 859260 e-mail:
hseinformationservices@natbrit.com or
write to HSE Information Services,
Caerphilly Business Park, Caerphilly
CF83 3GG.

This leaflet contains notes on good

practice which are not compulsory
but which you may find helpful in
considering what you need to do.
This pocket card is available in priced packs
of 25 from HSE Books, ISBN 0 7176 2454 4.
Single free copies are also available from
HSE Books.

© Crown copyright This publication may be

freely reproduced, except for advertising,
endorsement or commercial purposes. First
published 9/99. Please acknowledge the
source as HSE.

INDG296P Reprinted 5/03 C500