FEATURE
MONITORING IS A MUST-HAV
Andrea Bowen, Technical Product Manager for Casella, lays down the facts about Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome and presses home the importance of monitoring.
In 2003, there were 1,500 registered cases of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) in the UK compared to the 610 cases registered in 2014, showing that cases have more than halved in the past decade. In light of this fact you may ask why we are discussing a situation that has clearly improved...
With disorders such as HAVS, improving incidence rates is a small step when the permanent effects are preventable. It is estimated that nearly 2million people are at risk of suffering HAVS symptoms, so it is important that employers implement monitoring of vibration levels.
As the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations require employers to limit and ultimately eliminate the risks of HAVS in order to prevent avoidable cases, monitoring can anticipate a hazardous vibration level before it causes a disorder.
However, where vibration levels have reached hazardous levels, early symptoms of HAVS can be divided into three subgroups; neurological disorders, vascular and musculoskeletal. Neurological symptoms are felt in the form of tingling and numbness in the fingers and a lack of dexterity. Carpal Tunnel is the most common type of
neurological vibration injury with a prevalence rate of 7–16% in the UK but, if detected in time, most patients can make a full recovery.
Other symptoms can be arthritis - a musculoskeletal disorder which causes pain in the joints and reduced mobility, and vibration white finger (Raynaud’s phenomenon) - a vascular disorder caused by restricted blood flow which causes visible blanching of the hands. Raynaud’s is thought to affect as many as 10million people in the UK.
All of these symptoms can be caused by extended and continued use of guided power tools and machinery,
HAND ARM VIBRATION SYNDROME (HAVS) Preventable, but once the damage is done, permanent!
Vibration injuries are divided into three subgroups:
Vascular
including Vibration induced White Finger (VWF) or secondary Raynaud’s Disease
Neurological
including Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Musculoskeletal
including Arthritis or Tendonitis
VWF is thought to affect as many as 10 million people in the UK
12
Carpal Tunnel has a prevalence rate of
7-16% in the UK and is more common in
women than men
Just over 1 in 6 of the 8.75 million osteoarthritis suffers in the UK have it in their hand or wrist
www.tomorrowshs.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58