Hand Arm Vibration Toolbox Talk - PowerPoint Presentation

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Hand Arm Vibration Toolbox Talk

Health Protection Team

January 2022

Occupational Health Hazards

About Hand Arm Vibration

A presentation by Wood.

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What is Hand Arm Vibration?

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What are the health effects of Hand Arm Vibration?

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Who is at risk?

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How can the risk from Hand Arm Vibration be reduced?

What is Hand Arm Vibration?

A presentation by Wood.

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What is Hand Arm Vibration?

A presentation by Wood.

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Vibration is defined as rapid back and forth or oscillation movement from an equilibrium point.

Occupational exposure to vibration being transmitted to the hand, known as Hand Arm Vibration, comes from use of:

handheld power tools i.e. grinders or drills

hand guided equipment i.e. a lawn mower or floor saw

holding materials being worked by hand fed machines i.e

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pedestal grinder

Health Effects of Hand Arm Vibration

A presentation by Wood.

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Exposure to

Hand Arm Vibration can cause a range of serious and often disabling health effects in broadly two categories;

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Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

Tingling and numbness in the fingers

Loss of strength in hands

Vibration white finger (blanching)

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

Tingling and numbness in the fingers/hand

Ongoing pain in the wrist

Distress and sleep disturbance

Health Effects of Hand Arm Vibration

A presentation by Wood.

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Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

causes permanent damage and disability. This will affect both your professional as well as private life. Once you start to develop HAVS you will;

Struggle to undertake fine work with your hands / fingers as you will lose your sense of touch. This may restrict the work you are able to undertake and may prevent you from enjoying hobbies in your private life that require fine dexterity

Loss of grip strength, you may be unable to hold anything properly and as such, may no longer be able to do your job

Blanching of the fingers (going white) will stop you from using your hands in cold and/or wet weather and you may no longer be able to work in these conditions. Fingers & hands will be very painful once they warm up and blood returns

Health Effects of Hand Arm Vibration

A presentation by Wood.

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Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS)

is a progressive illness caused from regular and frequent exposure to high levels of vibration

The early stages of numbness and tingling in the hands & fingers is extremely common, but many individuals ignore these early warning signs thinking it is ‘part of the job’ or mistake it as a sign of ageing. People do not notice the damage until the Blanching (white finger) occurs, which is too late as the damage is now permanent and disabling

A presentation by Wood.

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Where is HAVS Commonly Found in industry?

Almost every industry will have some level of work that involves the use of handheld tools and/or equipment that generate vibration

Reducing Risk of Exposure

A presentation by Wood.

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Most Effective Controls:

Eliminate

During the design stage for work, consider alternative to using handheld tools such as automation

or attaching tools to plant items i.e. changing a handheld road breaker, attach a breaker to a mobile plant item such as a digger

Have the work designed so less use of vibrating tools are required

Have as much work completed off site in conditions where automation or use of robotics is more accessible

Consider use of chemical fixings to reduce the need to drill holes and fit mechanical anchors

Reducing Risk of Exposure

A presentation by Wood.

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Substitution

Replace existing tools / equipment with lower vibrating equivalents

Engineering

Use tools that have inbuilt vibration absorbing/dampening technology

Buy rigs/dollies/holders/clamps to support tools whilst they operate to reduce/prevent the need for tools to always be handheld or gripped tightly

Reducing Risk of Exposure

A presentation by Wood.

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Administrative Controls:

Provide a Safe System of work for vibrating tools

including task specific HAVS risk assessments which should include vibration magnitude of tools, estimated trigger times and time using tool to reach the exposure action value including control measures to reduce exposure

Use the right tools for the job and ensure they are used correctly –

Let the tool do the work, do not grip to tightly or force the tool

Use of job rotation –

share the exposure out over a shift

Provide minimum staffing for the job –

if the total vibration for the work on the day is over 100 points, at least two members of staff will be needed to ensure everyone is well below the Exposure Action Value

Reducing Risk of Exposure

A presentation by Wood.

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Administrative Controls continued:

Implement a testing and maintenance regime for all tools / equipment

Use the right tools for the job and ensure they are used correctly –

Let the tool do the work, do not grip to tightly or force the tool

Awareness training for all staff at risk of using handheld vibrating tools / equipment

Employees to self report any numbness or tingling in their hands and/or fingers after using tools

Supervisors & Managers to regularly undertake walkthroughs of work activities to confirm control measures are being followed

Encourage good circulation to the hands and arms by keeping warm and dry and by reducing activities that restrict blood flow such as smoking

Reducing Risk of Exposure

A presentation by Wood.

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Personal Protective equipment:

Clothing to keep warm and allow free movement when using tools or equipment

Use of gloves to keep hands warm, provide good grip as well as necessary dexterity to undertake work.

Note, products marketed as ‘anti vibration gloves’ have been proven to have no effect on reducing vibration exposure and must not be used as a control measure

Medical Surveillance

A presentation by Wood.

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Intent is to prevent, reverse, or reduce the severity of the health effects or disease

Medical surveillance typically consists of a baseline questionnaire upon start of employment for details of past exposure and any current symptoms. This same questionnaire should then be completed annually for individuals who use handheld vibrating tools / equipment

If questionnaires flag potential health effects or any current diagnosis of HAVS, a medical exam prior to starting work and then followed up annually is required.