THE RISK
Hours of buzzing add up
HSE says regular use of hand-held power tools for more than a few hours a day risks damage to the hand, wrist and arm. HAVS is preventable, but once the damage is done it is permanent.
Check a toolHANDS AND POWER TOOLS
Mind the buzz
in your hands.
Vibrating tools leave their mark slowly.
Check a tool
2.5 m/s²the daily action value
Grinders, sanders, hammer drills and hedge trimmers all pass vibration into the hands. The Health and Safety Executive says regular use can damage nerves, blood vessels and joints, and that the damage, once done, is permanent.
At a glance
- Less time on the tool
- Less vibration at the grip
- Warm, dry hands
- Small changes, hands for life
≈ 2 million
People at risk of HAVS
HSE says hand-arm vibration syndrome is serious and disabling, and nearly 2 million people are at risk. Construction, forestry, grounds maintenance and utilities are among the industries involved.
AT RISK · HSE
≈ 15 minutes
Time to reach the action value
For a modern, well-maintained hammer action tool, about 15 minutes of use is likely to reach the daily action value of 2.5 m/s² A(8). The limit of 5 m/s² A(8) comes after about an hour.
HAMMER TOOLS · HSE
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
A common risk,
a short fuse.
One figure on how many are exposed,
one on how fast exposure builds.
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 came into force on 6 July 2005. In HSE's exposure calculator the action value equals 100 points and the limit value 400 points.
A QUICK TOOL CHECK
How long until
the action value?
Pick a kind of tool to see roughly how long HSE says regular use takes to reach the daily exposure action value. The bar shows how fast exposure builds.
Based on HSE's Hand-arm vibration at work: a brief guide (INDG175), for modern, well-designed, well-maintained tools. Not medical or legal advice.
THE SHORT ANSWER
It is the time
and the shake.
Exposure depends on two things:
how much the tool vibrates, and how long you hold it.
GRIP AND TOOLS
Right tool, sharp, light grip
Use the right tool for the job, keep cutting tools sharp, check they are maintained, and avoid gripping or forcing a tool more than you have to.
What helps
KEEP WARM
Help your circulation
HSE advises keeping warm and dry, storing tools so handles are not very cold, and massaging and exercising your fingers during breaks.
Early signs
FOUR STEPS FROM HSE'S GUIDE
Less shake,
less time.
HSE's pocket guide for employees comes down to reducing the vibration reaching the hand and the time spent holding it.
Ask if there is another way
The first question is whether the job can be done without vibrating tools at all, or with suitable low-vibration ones.
Break up the time
Reduce how long you use a tool in one go by doing other jobs in between.
Look after the tool
Check it is maintained and repaired, and keep cutting tools sharp so they stay efficient.
Report symptoms early
Tell your employer, or whoever does your health checks, promptly about any problems with your hands.
EARLY SIGNS
Tingling first,
white fingers later.
HSE lists the early signs as tingling and numbness in the fingers, which can disturb sleep, not being able to feel things, loss of strength in the hands, and fingertips going white then red and painful in the cold and wet.
With continued use of high-vibration tools, HSE says these symptoms will probably get worse: numbness can become permanent, small objects such as screws become hard to pick up, and attacks of vibration white finger can come more often.
Questions
Questions people ask
What is hand-arm vibration syndrome?
HAVS is damage to the nerves, blood vessels, muscles and joints of the hand, wrist and arm caused by vibration. HSE says it includes vibration white finger and can become severely disabling if ignored.
What are the UK vibration limits?
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 set a daily exposure action value of 2.5 m/s² A(8) and a daily exposure limit value of 5 m/s² A(8). Both combine the vibration at the grip with the time spent gripping.
Which tools are most likely to be a problem?
HSE lists chainsaws, grinders, impact drills, scaling hammers, mowers and floor saws, powered hammers for breaking, sanders and polishers, and hand-held saws for concrete or metal.
Do the rules apply to DIY at home?
No. HSE says the regulations protect workers and do not apply to members of the public exposed to vibration from non-work activities. The practical steps in HSE's guide for employees still describe how exposure builds.
Can the damage be reversed?
HSE says HAVS caused by vibration at work is preventable, but once the damage is done it is permanent. Its advice is to report any hand symptoms promptly.
Sources
Where the facts come from
- HSE: Hand-arm vibration, worried about your hands?
- HSE: Hand-arm vibration key messages
- HSE: Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
- HSE: Hand-arm vibration at work, a brief guide (INDG175, PDF)
- HSE: Hand-arm vibration, a guide for employees (INDG296, PDF)
- legislation.gov.uk: The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
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