Vibration White Finger is a condition of numbness and blanching of the fingers which may be caused by the prolonged use of hand held vibratory tools or workpieces. Damage can occur to the blood vessels and nerves of the fingers, and may also affect other parts of the hand, the wrist and the shoulder. Such sensory loss may become permanent.

Occupations at greatest risk are:

• chain saws in forestry work
• the use of grinding and other rotary tools in grinding work
• hand held percussive metal working tools or the holding of material being worked upon by percussive tools in riveting, caulking, drilling, chipping, hammering, fettling and swagging.
• percussive hammers and drills in mining, quarrying and road construction.
• pounding machines in shoe manufacture.

These are not the only processes that may cause the condition, nor should it be assumed that these processes will automatically produce HAVS in the operator. Considerable work has been done by some manufacturers to reduce the vibration of their tools.

We offer assessment and periodic Medical Screening for those at risk.