Operators of hand-held vibrating tools can be at serious health risks, especially if exposed to high levels of vibration over an extended period of time. There are specific recommendations to mitigate the types of nerve and tissue damage that can occur in the construction industry when using these types of tools.
Vibration-induced white finger (VWF) is the most common condition among the operators of hand-held vibrating tools. Vibration can cause changes in tendons, muscles, bones and joints, and can affect the nervous system. Collectively, these effects are known as Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). The symptoms of VWF are aggravated when the hands are exposed to cold. Importantly, the development of HAVS is gradual and increases in severity over time. It may take a few months to several years for the symptoms of HAVS to become noticeable.
Workers affected by HAVS commonly report:
- attacks of whitening (blanching) of one or more fingers when exposed to cold
- tingling and loss of sensation in the fingers
- loss of light touch
- pain and cold sensations between periodic white finger attacks
- loss of grip strength
- bone cysts in fingers and wrists
NIOSH recommends engineering controls, medical surveillance, work practices, and personal protective equipment to help reduce exposure to vibrating handtools and to help identify vibration syndrome in its early stages among workers likely to be at risk. NIOSH specifically provides the following guidelines:
Preventative Measures
- Workers using vibrating handtools and their employers should be informed of the symptoms of vibration syndrome.
- Workers should see a physician promptly if they experience prolonged symptoms of tingling, numbness, or signs of blanched or blue fingers.
- Health professionals, particularly occupational health physicians, should be trained in the appropriate clinical examination and interview necessary to diagnose vibration syndrome.
- Vibrating handtools should be carefully maintained according to manufacturers’ recommendations. Some tools, such as grinders, can cause greater vibration levels to impinge on the hand when wear is uneven or their alignment slips.
- Work schedules with a 10-minute break after each hour of continuous exposure may help reduce the severity of vibration syndrome.
- Wear adequate clothing to keep the body temperature stable and normal, since a low body temperature reduces blood flow to the extremities and therefore may trigger an attack of vibration syndrome.
- Let the tool do the work, grasping it as lightly as possible while working safely and maintaining tool control. The tool should rest on the workpiece or support as much as possible. The tighter the tool is held, the greater the vibration transmitted to the worker
- Although gloves alone are not recommended as a method of reducing vibration transferred to the hands, they will help keep hands warm, and thus help reduce the severity of vibration syndrome.
For more information, contact Diversified Safety Services.
