Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome / Vibration White Finger

Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) or ‘Vibration White Finger' - caused by prolonged use of vibrating tools - is the most commonly recorded work-related condition. At least 5 million workers in the UK are believed to be at risk at any one time.

Protecting your employees

Express Medicals supports businesses in the prevention of HAVS by guiding them through the recommendations set out by The Health and Safety Executive. These recommendations require employers to assess the risk of HAVS and implement a programme of health surveillance.

Implementing HAVS surveillance

The HAVS surveillance services offered by Express Medicals are particularly beneficial for customers, because implementing a programme can be a complex and time-consuming process. It works on a five tier system that escalates from the filling out of simple questionnaires to the referral of employees to an occupational health professional where required.

Express Medicals handles the entire surveillance process for customers, from evaluating the questionnaires to organising referrals and storing individual employee records.

HAVS training

Express Medicals also offers "responsible person" training (as recommended by the HSE). The Express Medicals course ‘Responsible Person for HAVS' runs at the London Medical Centre. Please ask us about upcoming course dates.

HAVS surveillance explained

Tiers 1&2: Pre-employment assessment and annual screening
The early stages of surveillance involve a simple questionnaire for employees to complete

• before they begin working with vibration tools (Tier 1) and
• annually (Tier 2).

3-yearly HAVS consultation
The HSE recommends that after three years of reporting ‘no symptoms' at tiers 1 & 2, employees should consult a qualified professional to explore any HAVS issues that may have remained undetected over time.

Tiers 3 & 4: Clinical assessment and formal diagnosis
Tier 3 involves completing a detailed questionnaire with the help of a specially trained nurse who will also examine the hands. The results are reviewed by an occupational physician (Tier 4) who will make a formal diagnosis and "stage" the condition.

Tier 5: Optional standardised tests
Tier 5, the most in-depth assessment, is particularly relevant for those with rapid progression of the symptoms of HAVS. It includes laboratory-based "sensorineural tests"