How can I be affected by Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome?

You could develop Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome if you repeatedly use hand held vibrating tools or regularly hold, or work with equipment that vibrates.

The length of time which you are exposed to the vibrating tool, the way you hold the equipment, the frequency of your breaks and the temperature within which you are working are all significant factors in determining your individual susceptibility.

For some people regularly using high vibration machines and tools the symptoms may appear after just a few months of exposure but for others it may take several years.

Some factors potentially related to injurious effects during hand-transmitted vibration exposures:

• The magnitude of the vibration (r.m.s., peak, weighted/unweighted)
• The frequency of the vibration (spectra, dominant frequencies)
• The direction of the vibration (x-, y-, z- axes)
• The exposure duration (hourly, daily, weekly)
• The patterns of exposure (continuous, intermittent)
• The accumulative duration of exposure
• The environmental conditions (cold, humidity)
• The overall tool design (portable, fixed)
• The tool type (percussive, rotary, rotating percussive)
• The overall condition of the tool
• The operation of the tool
• The material being worked on
• The vibration absorption rates
• The general health of the operator
• The operators susceptibility to injury
• The method of working (grip hand-arm posture, body position)