What Causes Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)?

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Hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is caused by regular and frequent exposure to vibration from hand-held or hand-guided power tools, such as breakers, grinders, disc cutters and hammer drills, or from holding work pieces against machines like pedestal grinders. Over months or years the vibration damages the nerves, blood vessels and joints of the hand, wrist and arm. HAVS is preventable, but once the damage is done it is permanent, which is why the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 set a daily exposure action value of 2.5 m/s² A(8) and a limit value of 5 m/s² A(8).

Grinders and disc cutters are among the most common sources on site. If your team uses them, our abrasive wheel training covers the safe use, mounting and inspection of abrasive wheels and discs on portable machines.

What is hand arm vibration syndrome?

Hand-arm vibration is vibration transmitted from work processes into workers’ hands and arms. According to HSE advice for employers, it can cause a range of conditions known together as hand arm vibration syndrome, as well as specific diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome. HSE estimates that nearly 2 million people are at risk. Occasional exposure is unlikely to cause ill health: the danger comes when using vibrating tools is a regular part of someone’s job.

What causes HAVS? The high-risk tools

Exposure depends on two things: how strongly the tool vibrates at the grip, and how long the worker holds it each day. HSE lists these tools and processes among the most common causes:

concrete breakers, road breakers and concrete pokers
angle, die and straight grinders, and cut-off saws for stone, concrete and metal
hammer drills, impact drills and impact wrenches
chipping hammers, needle scalers and scabblers
sanders and polishers
chainsaws, strimmers, hedge trimmers and powered mowers
pedestal grinders, where the worker holds the work piece

HSE’s leaflet Hand-arm vibration at work (INDG175) gives a guide to how quickly modern, well-maintained tools reach the legal values with regular use:

Tool type	Likely to reach the action value after	Likely to reach the limit value after
Hammer action tools (breakers, hammer drills, chipping hammers)	About 15 minutes a day	About 1 hour a day
Non-hammer action tools (grinders, sanders, saws)	About 1 hour a day	About 4 hours a day

Damaged and very old tools can be hazardous even when used for very short periods, so maintenance matters as much as trigger time. Many of the same tools are loud too, so check noise at the same time, as explained in our guide to measuring noise on a construction site.

HAVS symptoms and vibration white finger

HSE lists the early signs to watch for in its advice for workers:

tingling and numbness in the fingers, which can disturb sleep
not being able to feel things properly with the fingers
loss of strength in the hands
in the cold and wet, the fingertips going white, then red and painful on recovery. This is known as vibration white finger

For some people symptoms appear after only a few months of exposure, but in most cases they develop over a few years. With continued exposure they get worse: numbness can become permanent, picking up small objects such as screws and nails becomes difficult, and white finger attacks happen more often and affect more fingers. HSE warns these effects can severely limit the jobs a person is able to do, and make everyday tasks such as fastening buttons difficult.

Exposure limits: the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005

The regulations came into force on 6 July 2005. Regulation 4 sets two daily values for hand-arm vibration, both expressed as an eight-hour equivalent, A(8):

Value	Daily exposure	Exposure points	What it means
Exposure action value (EAV)	2.5 m/s² A(8)	100 points	A clear risk. The employer must put in place a programme of controls to reduce exposure as low as reasonably practicable
Exposure limit value (ELV)	5 m/s² A(8)	400 points	A high risk. It must not be exceeded on any single day, and immediate action is required if it is

The regulations also set whole body vibration values of 0.5 and 1.15 m/s² A(8), which apply to things like driving plant rather than holding tools. For hand-arm vibration, HSE says employers must:

assess the vibration risk and decide whether anyone is likely to be exposed above the EAV or ELV
take action to reduce exposure, and make sure the ELV is never exceeded
give employees information and training on the health risks and the controls in place
provide health surveillance where there is a risk, including for anyone exposed at or above the EAV
consult safety or employee representatives, keep records of the assessment and health checks, and review the assessment regularly

Working out daily exposure

HSE’s free hand-arm vibration exposure calculator is a spreadsheet: enter a representative vibration magnitude and trigger time for up to six tools, and it shows each worker’s daily exposure in m/s² A(8) and in points, plus how long each tool can be used before the EAV and ELV are reached. You do not need continuous monitoring. HSE expects a brief survey of who uses vibrating equipment and for how long, and notes that electronic monitoring systems can vary by up to 20% on the same task, so treat them as a check rather than a control.

How to reduce the risk

The most effective step is a different way of working that avoids vibrating tools altogether. Where that is not possible, HSE advises practical controls such as:

choosing low vibration tools and checking vibration data when buying or hiring
maintaining tools and keeping cutting tools and discs sharp and suitable for the job
rotating tasks so nobody holds a vibrating tool for too long
avoiding gripping or forcing a tool harder than needed
keeping workers warm and dry to help blood circulation. Gloves keep hands warm but should not be relied on to protect against vibration

HAVS and carpal tunnel syndrome are also reportable under RIDDOR when a doctor diagnoses them and the person’s work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools.

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FAQs

What are the first signs of hand arm vibration syndrome?

Tingling and numbness in the fingers, loss of feeling and grip strength, and fingertips turning white then red and painful in the cold and wet. Report any of these to your employer or the person who carries out your health checks straight away.

Is vibration white finger permanent?

It can be. HSE says HAVS is preventable, but once the damage is done it is permanent. Spotting symptoms early and reducing exposure stops it getting worse.

What is the daily exposure limit for hand arm vibration?

The exposure limit value is 5 m/s² A(8), equal to 400 exposure points. Action is required from 2.5 m/s² A(8), or 100 points.

Which tools cause hand arm vibration?

Breakers, hammer drills, grinders, disc cutters, needle scalers, scabblers, sanders, chainsaws and similar powered tools, as well as holding work pieces against pedestal grinders.

Do anti-vibration gloves prevent HAVS?

No. HSE says gloves help keep hands warm and dry, which supports blood circulation, but they should not be relied on to protect against vibration.

Is HAVS reportable under RIDDOR?

Yes, when a doctor diagnoses it and the person’s current work involves regular use of percussive or vibrating tools.

Cutting down vibration starts with using the right disc, on the right machine, in the right way. Find out more about our abrasive wheel training, delivered at our training centres or at your premises, or call 0333 444 0018 to talk to our team.