Reducing hand-held risks

Using vibrating hand-held tools such as chainsaws, cut-off saws and power drills can cause devastation for people whose job requires them to handle the equipment regularly, as prolonged use can lead to the debilitating condition – hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).

Numbness in the hands, loss of feeling in fingers and white finger tips on cold wet and windy days are just some of the signs of HAVS and if the symptoms are not acted upon quickly the condition can cause permanent loss of feeling, which can lead to muscle wasting and weakness.

Sufferers can also experience difficulty picking up small objects, such as screws and nails, due to the loss of feeling or tingling in the fingers and continued use of high-vibration tools can cause the symptoms to get worse.

It is therefore important for employers in industries such as construction, estate management and heavy engineering, to ensure that measures are put in place to reduce the risks caused from using hand-held tools.

If there is a high-risk to workers, employers should ensure they have an action plan in place in order to control exposure to the hazard.

The onus is on the employer to protect workers against HAVS, as they have a responsibility to look after the health and wellbeing of staff. They need to ensure that control measures to reduce vibration are properly applied and that workers are provided with the relevant information, training and health surveillance.

 

A way in which this can be achieved is by having a system in place to manage the risks, which shows how to plan, organise, control, monitor and review preventative measures.

So, if your employees are regularly and frequently working with vibrating tools and equipment or materials, such as concrete breakers/pokers, sanders, grinders, disc cutters, or hedge trimmers, for more than a few hours a day, and complain of tingling and numbness in their hands or fingers after using vibrating tools, then the chances are you will need to do something about vibration exposure.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), employers also need to take action if: 

In saying that, workers can also take responsibility by making sure they are using the right tool for the job, taking regular breaks away from the tool, by keeping warm and dry and ensuring tools are well maintained. They can also limit their exposure to hand-arm vibration by massaging their fingers to encourage good blood circulation.

Most at risk of developing HAVS are those working in the construction, estate management and heavy engineering industries, as their jobs require them to regularly use hand-held power tools for more than a few hours a day.

Some of the effects of HAVS, including pain, inability to do fine work and everyday tasks, such as handling coins, reduced grip strength, and reduced ability to work in cold or damp conditions, can limit the jobs a sufferer is able to do, which could spell disaster for a firm if an experienced team member is out of action.

So you see, employee wellbeing is one of the cornerstones of a successful organisation. 

Safe and healthy working is the foundation upon which everything else in business is built, not just because it is the most cost effective and efficient, but because addressing health at work is seen as having a major contribution towards improving public health generally. 

After all, a safe and healthy workplace also makes sound business sense and the vast majority of accidents and ill health can be prevented by good health and safety management.