## Stewart Mcnaughton Health And Safety Consultant - Havs Reactec Ltd Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome What'S The Problem?

HAVS sufferers face long term disablement.  
There is no cure.  
Prevention is the only option.  

## Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome What'S The Problem?

Disturbance to hand function caused  
by transmitted vibration  

## Blood Vessels

 

## Nervous System Muscoskeletal Damage

Symptoms include tingling, numbness, reduced grip  
or dexterity and pain, often severe. 

## Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome History

1911: Symptoms first described by Professor Giovanni Loriga in Italy 1918: Dr Alice Hamilton MD refers to 
"dead fingers" syndrome  in 1918 1970: Dr Alice Hamilton dies, aged 101 
1970: Term 'vibration induced white finger' 
coined by Industrial Injury Advisory Council 

## Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome History

Dr Hamilton: 
"The trouble seems to be caused by the vibrations of the tool, and cold.  
 
If these features can  
be eliminated the trouble can be decidedly lessened" 

## Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome History

1975: First scale published for assessing the condition -  The Taylor-Pelmear scale 1985: Listed as a prescribed disease in UK 
 
1997: UK High Court awarded £127,000 in compensation to seven coal miners for vibration white finger 
 
2004: UK government fund set up to cover subsequent claims by ex-coalminers exceeds £100 million in payments. 

## Havs Current Legislation Interpretation

•
Health And Safety At Work Act 1974. 
 
•
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. 
•
Management Of Health And Safety At Work Regulations 1999. 
 
•
Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive 2002. 
•
Control of Vibrations Regulations 2005. 
 
•
Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008. 

## Havs Current Legislation Exemptions

- Emergency services 
 
- Air transport 
 
- Ministry of Defence 

## The Control Of Vibrations Regulations 2005

# Protect Workers From Harmful Effects Of Vibration Exposure Transmitted By Hand Contact

## Risk Assessment

Suitable health surveillance should be undertaken where risk assessment indicates a risk to workers' health. 

 

## Why And How To Detect/Report Symptoms Of Havs

- Most surveillance is carried out annually. 
 
- Susceptible individuals can develop 
symptoms in 6 months or less. 
 

## Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome Implications

Employee 
•Health & Safety •Disability 
•Employability 
•**Family** 

## Employee Employee Employee Employee Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome Implications

•Core Skills 
•Costs 
•Morale 
•Closure 
•Prosecution •Reputation 
Employer 
 
•Legal 
•Litigious 
•Ethical 
•Moral 
•Insurance 

## Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome Implications Health & Safety Professional


•Ethical 
•Moral 
•Trust 
•Respect 
•Prosecution •Reputation 
•Career 
 

## Lawyers? Ambulance Chasing? It Is Reasonable To Expect That This Emerging Market Will Be Filled  By Qualified Professionals. Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome Litigation

Hand Arm Vibration Claim: Solicitor Sets Out Compensation Amounts For HAVS, 
Vibration White Finger, Reynaud's Syndrome, Whole Body Vibration Syndrome 
 
1. Financial losses and expenses 2. Pain and Suffering 3. Legal Costs 1. Hand arm vibration affecting the fingers: **£2,000 - £11,000** 2.  Disability to one or both hands: **£11,000 - £25,000** 
'Substantial' payout to Cumbrian man whose hands damaged at work By Jenny Barwise Thompsons Solicitors £30,000 payout for young man from Doncaster who had to change jobs after vibrating tools permanently damaged his hands 

## Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome Litigation Hand Armvibration Compensation Claim Amounts Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome Is Classed As An Industrial Injury And As Such It Is Possible To Make A Claim For Personal Injury Compensation If Employer Blame Has Been Established For The Injuries Sustained. See Below Compensation Examples; £15,000 Compensation For A Construction Worker That Used Hydraulic Breakers And Wacker Plates And Developed Vibration White Finger. £10,000 Injury Compensation For A Construction Worker Using Pneumatic Tools Such As Vibrating Pokers, Scrablers, Whacker Plates And Kango Hammers Over A 20 Year Period Who Developed Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome £6,761 Awarded To An Employee Of The National Coal Board That Had Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome. £4,000 Out Of Court Settlement To An Engineering Worker That Used Needle Guns And Grinders And Developed Vibration White Finger. £10,000 Compensation Awarded To A Steel Fabricator After He Developed Vibration White Finger. £20,000 Injury Compensation To A Steel Fabricator That Used Angle Grinders On A Daily Basis After He Developed A Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome Condition. Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome Litigation

Unite member David Hopps, 65 has received a £15,000 out of court payout after developing Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), caused by the maintenance craftsman's use of vibrating tools at Drax Power Station. Worker receives payout over hand injury A STOURBRIDGE man has received a £10,000 out of court payout after his hands were left permanently damaged by using vibrating tools at work. Keith Rowley, aged 55, was left with the debilitating condition Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), also known as Vibration White Finger, after using vibrating tools in his job as a fitter. His employer General Kinematics Ltd based in Kingswinford did not admit liability - but settled the claim out of court after Keith's union, the GMB (Britain's General Union), instructed Thompsons Solicitors to pursue compensation for his injury 

## Vibration Exposure Risk Assessment

Your risk assessment should: 
 
- Identify where there might be a risk from vibration and who is likely to 

be affected 
 
-  Contain a reasonable estimate of your employees' exposures 
 
- Identify what you need to do to comply with the law eg whether 
vibration control measures are needed, and, if so, where and what type 
 
- Identify any employees who need to be provided with health 
surveillance and whether any are at particular risk. 

## Vibration Exposure Risk Assessment

What to do: 
- Review regularly - After any change in circumstance 
- Use a competent person 
- Make lists... - Employees - Activities 
- Tools 

## Vibration Exposure Risk Assessment

What to do: 
- Record the findings of your risk assessment - Create an action plan 
- Set out what you have done 
- State what you are going to do - Create a timetable of actions - Say who will be responsible for the work 

## Health Surveillance

•
Is identifying HAVS sufferers  merely doing the minimum ? 
•
Most surveillance is carried out annually. 
 
•
Susceptible individuals can develop symptoms in 6 months or less. 
•
Isn't prevention better than identification? 

## The Value Of Continuous Monitoring

•
Efficient and timely analysis of data. 
 
•
Swift Identification of over exposure. 
•
Early Intervention and Prevention. 
 
•
Involves Workforce. 
•
Contributes to Workforce Safety Awareness. 
 
•
Aids change Management. 

## Havs Management Tools Havs Management Tools Havs Management Tools Benefits Of Havs Management Benefits Of Havs Management

- Reduced Labour Costs 
- Accurate HAV data 
- Accurate Trigger Time Data - Timely & salient reporting - Increased Productivity - Supports Tool Management 
 

## Benefits Of Havs Management Simple To Use Benefits Of Havs Management Reporting

•
Simple overview of operative exposure 
•
Instances where EAV/ ELV are exceeded highlighted 
automatically 
•
Records kept indefinitely 
•
Information defendable in court 
•
Quick & easy to produce 
 

## Reporting

 
•
Detailed information of what tools 
are being used and when 
•
Easily investigate which tools causing over exposure 
•
Staff productivity analysis 
•
Potential for comparison of task 
completion rates between squads 

## Reporting

•
Easy to read pie chart showing individuals share of exposure as percentage of the team 
•
Useful ongoing management tool 
•
Allows supervisors to balance out 
total exposure among team 

## Best Practice Local Authorities Supporting Continuous Monitoring

Argyll and Bute Council 
Bridgend County Borough Council 
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council 
Coventry City Council 
Caerphilly County Borough Council 
Suffolk County Council 
Blaenau Gwent County Council Borough Council 
Rushcliffe Borough Council 
Hartlepool Borough Council 
 

Southampton City Council 
Dumfries and Galloway Council 
Leicester City Council 
Glasgow City Council 
Pendle Borough Council 
Northumberland County Council 
Forest of Dean District Council 
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council 
Newcastle City Council 
St Helens Council 
Vale of Glamorgan Council 
Falkirk Council 
Tendring District Council 
Durham County Council 
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council 
Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council 
North Lincolnshire Council 
Powys County Council 
East Lindsey District Council 
South Holland District Council 
Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council 
Conwy County Borough Council 
Perth and Kinross Council 
West Lothian Council 
Carmarthenshire County Council 

Swansea City and Borough Council Bassetlaw District Council Sunderland City Council Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council The City of Edinburgh Council Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council North Ayrshire Council North Lanarkshire Council Scottish Borders Council Braintree District Council Harrogate Borough Council Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Flintshire County Council Stirling Council Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council Hyndburn Borough Council West Dunbartonshire Council Norfolk County Council Dundee City Council Peterborough City Council St Edmundsbury Borough Council Hampshire County Council Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council Stoke on Trent City Council Wrexham County Borough Council 
 

## Best Practice Organisations Supporting Continuous Monitoring End Thank You