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Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is an occupational condition associated with regular exposure to vibration from tools, machinery and work processes.

It can affect the nerves, blood vessels, muscles and joints in the hands and arms. Symptoms may initially appear mild or intermittent but continued exposure can cause permanent damage, affecting a person’s work, independence and everyday life.

If you developed HAVS because an employer failed to take reasonable steps to manage your exposure to vibration, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

What is Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome?

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome is a collective term for several conditions caused by excessive exposure to vibration through the hands and arms.

The vibration may come from operating powered hand tools, using hand-guided machinery or holding materials against powered equipment. Occasional use is unlikely to cause HAVS. The risk is generally associated with regular and frequent exposure over an extended period, although the time it takes for symptoms to appear differs from person to person.

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome can cause:

• Damage to the nerves in the hands and fingers
• Problems with blood circulation
• Reduced grip strength
• Pain or stiffness in the hands, wrists and arms
• Carpal tunnel syndrome in some cases

According to HSE: Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, the symptoms are likely to worsen with continued exposure and may become permanent.

Is vibration white finger the same as Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome?

The terms are often used interchangeably, but vibration white finger is one component of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome.

Vibration white finger affects the circulation in the fingers. It may cause one or more fingers to turn white, particularly when exposed to cold or wet conditions. As circulation returns, the fingers may become red, painful and affected by pins and needles.

HAVS is the broader term. It includes the circulation problems associated with vibration white finger as well as damage to the nerves, muscles and joints.

A person can therefore have HAVS without experiencing obvious finger blanching.

What are the symptoms of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome?

Early symptoms may be easy to dismiss, particularly when they improve after stopping work or warming the hands.

Signs of HAVS can include:

• Tingling or numbness in the fingers
• Reduced sensitivity or difficulty feeling objects
• Fingers turning white in cold or wet conditions
• Pain as circulation returns to the fingers
• Loss of grip strength
• Difficulty handling small objects
• A reduced ability to carry out precise work
• Pain, stiffness or weakness in the hands and arms

As the condition progresses, everyday tasks such as fastening buttons, handling coins, using cutlery or opening containers can become difficult. Some people also experience sleep disturbance and find that cold weather triggers pain.

Anyone experiencing these symptoms should report them to their employer and seek medical advice. Early action may help prevent the condition from becoming more serious.

Which tools and occupations can cause Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome?

Any work involving regular use of vibrating equipment may create a risk.

Tools commonly associated with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome include:

• Concrete breakers and road breakers
• Hammer drills
• Grinders, sanders and disc cutters
• Impact wrenches
• Chainsaws, hedge trimmers and brush cutters
• Powered lawnmowers

Workers in construction, manufacturing, engineering, vehicle repair, forestry, grounds maintenance, utilities, mining and quarrying may be particularly at risk.

However, a job title alone does not determine whether someone can make a claim. The type of equipment used, its vibration level, the amount of time spent using it and the precautions taken by the employer must all be considered.

What must employers do to protect workers from vibration?

Employers have a legal duty to protect employees from avoidable risks to their health and safety.

Depending on the workplace and the equipment involved, reasonable precautions may include:

• Using alternative work methods that produce less vibration
• Selecting suitable low-vibration tools
• Maintaining tools
• Limiting the time workers spend using vibrating equipment
• Introducing breaks, task rotation or work-sharing arrangements
• Training workers to use tools correctly
• Providing information about HAVS and its early symptoms
• Acting promptly when a worker reports symptoms

Keeping workers warm and dry can help circulation, but gloves should not be treated as adequate protection against vibration. The main priority should be reducing the vibration reaching the worker and limiting the length of exposure.

Can I claim compensation for HAVS or vibration white finger?

You may be able to make a personal injury claim if your work caused or materially contributed to your condition and your employer failed to take reasonable precautions.

Developing Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome while employed in a job involving vibrating tools does not automatically establish that the employer was at fault. Evidence will be needed to show that the risk was not properly managed.

An independent medical expert will usually be asked to consider your diagnosis, the extent of your symptoms and whether workplace vibration caused or contributed to the condition.

Can I claim against a former employer?

Yes. HAVS usually develops gradually and workers may not recognise the connection between their symptoms and their employment until years later.

A claim may therefore concern a former employer. It may also be possible to proceed if the business has ceased trading, provided the relevant employer’s liability insurer can be identified.

Some people have been exposed to vibration while working for several employers. In these circumstances, it may be necessary to investigate the conditions and level of exposure at each workplace. More than one employer or insurer could become involved in the claim.

How long do I have to make a HAVS claim?

In most personal injury claims in England and Wales, court proceedings must be started within three years of the injury or the date on which the claimant first had the relevant knowledge about their condition, whichever is later.

This can be more complicated in an industrial disease claim because HAVS develops gradually. Time may begin to run when you knew, or could reasonably have been expected to know, that your symptoms were significant and attributable to your work.

Learn more by reading: How long do I have to make a personal injury claim?

What compensation could I receive?

Compensation is assessed according to the severity of the condition and its effect on the individual.

A successful claim may include compensation for:

• Pain, suffering and loss of amenity
• Past and future loss of earnings
• Medical treatment and rehabilitation

The value of a claim will depend on the medical evidence and the claimant’s personal circumstances. Someone who can no longer continue in a skilled manual occupation may have a substantial loss of earnings claim even if they remain capable of other work.

No Win No Fee HAVS claims

At Askews Solicitors, we can usually handle workplace injury claims on a No Win No Fee basis. We can explain how this arrangement works and advise you about any other funding options that may be available.

Speak with a Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome / Vibration White FInger claims solicitor in Middlesbrough or Redcar

If you have developed Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, vibration white finger or another vibration-related condition because of your work, Askews Solicitors can advise you on your options.

Our personal injury solicitors act for workers in Middlesbrough, Redcar, Teesside, North Yorkshire and throughout England and Wales.

Contact Us to make a free, confidential and no-obligation enquiry. Alternatively, visit Industrial Disease Claims to learn more about how we can help.

This content is for informational purposes and is not intended as advice of any kind.