HAVS Risk Management

 

What is Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome? (HAVS)

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is the generic terms used to describe a variety of injuries incurred to the hands and arms caused through excessive exposure to vibrating tools.

HAVS was previously known as the industrial injury vibration white finger which describes the main symptom displayed in sufferers. The blanching appearance in the fingers and hands is created by poor blood circulation which destroys blood vessels and tissue.

It is also known as Secondary Raynaud's Syndrome which if not detected in the early stages permanently impairs blood circulation in the fingers and can lead to gangrene in the more serious stages.

The three main effects of HAVS can be categorised as follows ;-

Nerve entrapment or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition associated with HAVS and involves the median nerve becoming compressed. The median nerve is the nerve that travels down the arm into the hand, which subsequently becomes squeezed as it passes through the narrow path (or tunnel) at the wrist. The pressure on the wrist causes fingers and the thumb to feel tingly and numb. They may even feel paralysed and incapable of movement.

Stenosing Tenosynovitis, is another typical a condition associated with HAVS it is the an irritation and swelling of the sheath or tunnel which surrounds the thumb tendons as they pass from the wrist to the thumb

Other damage incurred to the hands can be neurological and musculoskeletal which can manifest itself through the symptoms of numbness and tingling in the fingers and hands which subsequently creates clumsiness and weakness of grip.