Vibration White Finger ( VWF )

The term VIBRATION WHITE FINGER is a more commonly used name for Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). The distinctive effects of the disease are ;-

• Tingling and numbness in the fingers
• The finger or fingers turn white with increasing frequency

British miners were the among the first to be awarded compensation after they developed Vibration White Finger, a condition caused by working with vibrating machinery such as jack hammers, chain saws, grinders and drills.

The condition is one form of Raynaud's Disease which affects one in 10 women, usually with mild symptoms. Women are nine times more likely to suffer from the disease as men.

Vibration White Finger is caused by a restriction in the blood supply to the extremities, usually affecting the fingers and toes however it has also been known to affect the ears and nose.

The parts of the body affected initially turn white and dead-looking and then become inflamed. An attack may be accompanied by significant pain, numbness or a tingling sensation. With Vibration White Finger (VWF), the fingers may also go into spasm, this is primarily due to the intermittent lack of blood supply to the fingers.

Other effects can include damage to sensory nerves, muscles and joints

The condition is usually not severe and attacks only cause minor discomfort, but it can lead to skin ulcers and even gangrene and it can be progressive over a period of several years.

VWF is triggered by continuous use of vibrating hand machinery, but some forms of primary Raynaud's Disease have no trigger.

What triggers VWF attacks?

• Prolonged exposure to the cold is a major trigger for the disease.
• Smoking and stress are also thought to be factors and the disease can be caused by a reaction to beta blocker drugs.
• Prolonged use of vibrating machinery are more likely to develop VWF, which can become irreversible.
  

What Are The Symptoms

• Tingling and numbness in the fingers which often continues after the machinery has been switched off;
• One fingertip temporarily turns white and may start to ache;
• The finger turns white with increasing frequency;
• Other fingers begin turning white, but the thumb is not usually affected. After several fingers turn white, the disease is probably irreversible;
• The person suffers increasingly frequent painful attacks at any time.

Eventually, the person may lose their fingers generally this only happens in extreme cases, for example, when people are working with vibrating machinery in very cold conditions, but it is more common in the forestry industry among people working with chainsaws.