Hand Arm Vibration
This document contains information originating from a California Tailgate guide.
Background
You may think that the tingling, pain, or numbness you feel when you use vibrating tools is just part of your job. But vibrating tools (like drills, jackhammers, grinders, and chainsaws) can cause serious health problems---so serious that you could be forced to leave your trade. Millions of U.S. workers use vibrating tools. More than half of them will get some kind of injury.
How you may get injured
There are variations of ways to get injured using tools that emit high levels of vibration. Some of them may include:
- The amount of vibration the tool produces ("acceleration level")
- How long you use the tool each day
- How many total hours, months, and years you use vibrating tools
- The way you hold and use these tools.
Some workers may have symptoms just a few months after they start using vibrating tools, but others may not have any trouble for a long time.
Symptoms
Vibration from tools can damage the blood vessels in your hands and fingers. The reduced blood supply can then harm the skin, nerves, and muscles. You lose feeling in your hands and fingers, and can't control them. This is called handarm vibration syndrome (HAVS), and is also known as "white finger," "dead finger," or "Raynaud's Syndrome." Closely monitor your symptoms to see if they match with any of the following:
- Tingling fingers
- Numbness
- Trouble picking up small objects
- Clumsiness with hands
- Trouble button and zipping clothes
- Reduced sense of heat, cold, and pain in hands.
Preventing Injury
There are no absolute ways to prevent this type of injury. However there are some great suggestions:
- There are gloves with vibration-damping material built into the palms and fingers. But they haven't been proven effective. If they fit well and don't cause you to grip tighter, it doesn't hurt to try them.
- During cold weather regular work gloves and warm clothing are important to avoid getting your hands cold or wet. Remember that cold increases your risk.
- Hearing protection is important in noisy environments, and many vibrating tools are very loud. Remember that noise increases your risk.
- Always wear safety glasses or other eye/face protection when you work with any tool.
- If an alternate tool for the job is available use it. Limit the usage of vibration tools as much as possible. If unavoidable try using tools that have an anti vibration feature.
- Always maintain your tools! Poorly maintained tools create more vibration.
- Take a 10-minute break for every hour that you spend working with a vibrating tool. Or alternate work with vibrating and non-vibrating tools.
It's important to know that once you fully develop hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), it may be too late to reverse it. You may never recover full use of your fingers. The only cure is prevention.
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