Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) also known as Vibration White Finger - A disorder which affects the blood vessels, nerves and muscles of the hand, wrist and forearm. Can be Caused by excessive exposure to hand held equipment that vibrates excessively. Symptoms Include: • Tingling and numbness in the fingers • In the cold and wet fingers go white and are painful • You can’t feel things with your fingers • Pain or tingling in your forearms at night which stop you sleeping • Loss of strength in you arms and hands

1. Health, Safety and Environment
Weekly Safety Review 9 SIMS awaiting
First Aid Recordable
Managers Comments
No. injuries ytd 5 0
Injury rate ytd 0 0
No. days worked since 242 Injury
last OSHA recordable (16/7/09) Performance
Issue Date : 16 th
March 2010 INJURY
No. days worked since 894
MP 8615 Vibration at Work, Control last RIDDOR injury (5/10/07)
FREE
WEEK
5
of Exposure
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) also known as Vibration White Finger - A
disorder which affects the blood vessels, nerves and muscles of the hand, wrist and
forearm. Can be Caused by excessive exposure to hand held equipment that
vibrates excessively.
Symptoms Include
• Tingling and numbness in the fingers
• In the cold and wet fingers go white and are painful
• You can’t feel things with your fingers
• Pain or tingling in your forearms at night which stop you sleeping
• Loss of strength in you arms and hands
We need to identify tools and equipment
• That we own
• That we use
• That vibrates
Hired equipment should be already marked up with exposure times
Ensure equipment is maintained and in good working order
TYPE OF TOOL CATEGORY
MAXIMUM TRIGGER TIME
(used in Sembcorp) Sticker colour
Grinders < 6”
Internal Grinders
8 hours in any 8 hour period. Tools
Normal Drills
A that vibrate up to 5 metres per
Power Saws
second squared (m/s²)
Engravers
Strimmers
Grinders > 6”
2 hours in any 8 hour period. Tools
Hammer Drills B
that vibrate up to 10 m/s²
Chain Saws
Tools that vibrate over 10 m/s² must
Impact Guns be assessed on the chart over the
Needle Guns C page to identify usage time, or
Impact Chisels contact your supervisor or the safety
department
“Trigger Time” = the total time the equipment is operating and in contact with each
operator’s hands, in a working day, not the length of the job.

2. The procedure requires each work group to…….
•Identify all the vibrating tools in their area and put them in a
register
• Assess the level of vibration each tool produces
• Place the correct coloured sticker on the equipment
Contact the safety department to help carry out your survey
What can you do …….
Let your supervisor know if you have any symptoms
Learn to Recognise the signs of HAVS
Use any control measures provided
Try a different approach to your job
Use the right tool for the job
Keep blades and cutting edges sharp
Keep machines maintained
Intersperse vibrating activities and other work
Improve your blood circulation by:
– Keeping warm, wear gloves etc.
– Giving up smoking
– Massaging and exercising fingers during work breaks