Regular exposure to hand-arm vibration from operating power tools can lead to permanent health effects like hand-arm vibration syndrome. Prolonged exposure can cause numbness, tingling, and vibration white finger. Early symptoms should not be ignored, as damage can become permanent and affect manual ability if left unchecked. Employers must assess risk, control exposure, and provide health surveillance for workers regularly exposed above the action value.

1. Hand Arm Vibration
Health and Safety Advice for Stonemasons
Stonemasonry Department 2011

2. What is Hand-Arm Vibration?
Hand-arm vibration is vibration transmitted
from work processes into workers hands
and arms. It can be caused by operating
hand-held power tools such as grinders,
drills, pneumatic hammers etc or by
holding materials being processed by
machines.
Regular and frequent exposure to hand-
arm vibration can lead to permanent
health effects. This is most likely when
contact with a vibrating tool or work
process is a regular part of a persons job.
Occasional exposure is unlikely to cause ill
health.
Can you think of any activities that you
carry out at work which cause hand-arm
vibration?

3. Health Effects
Prolonged exposure to hand-arm vibration can lead
to hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). HAVS
affects the nerves, blood vessels, muscles and
joints of the hands, wrists and arms and can
become severely disabling if ignored.
HAVS includes vibration white finger which can
cause severe pain in the affected fingers.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a nerve disorder which
may involve pain, tingling, numbness and
weakness in parts of the hand, and can be caused
by, among other things, exposure to vibration.

4. Early Warning Signs
What are the early signs and symptoms to look out for?
Tingling and numbness in the fingers
Not being able to feel things with your fingers
Loss of strength in your hands
In the cold and wet, the tips of your fingers going white then red and being very
painful on recovery (vibration white finger).
What will happen if I ignore the early symptoms?
The numbness in your hands could become permanent and you wont be able to feel
things at all.
You will have difficulty picking up small objects such as screws or nails
The vibration white finger could happen more frequently and affect more of your
fingers.

5. Statistics
Instances of Injury (UK) caused by Hand Arm Vibration 1998-2008
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Vibration White Finger Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Recent statistics from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) suggest that the
instances of injury caused by hand arm vibration has risen gradually since 1998. This is
most likely to be due to a combination of improvements in medical diagnosis and
increased reliance on power tools. Source of data: DWP 2011

6. Legislation
The legislation which covers hand arm vibration is The Control of Vibration at Work
Regulations 2005. The contents of this legislation can be downloaded free of charge at:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/2793/contents/made

7. Employers Responsibilities
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to:
assess the vibrations risk to employees
decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure action value (EAV)
and if they are; introduce a programme of controls to eliminate risk, or reduce
exposure to as low a level as is reasonably practicable and provide health
surveillance (regular health checks) to those employees who continue to be
regularly exposed above the action value or otherwise continue to be at risk
Decide if they are likely to be exposed above the daily exposure limit value (ELV)
and if they are take immediate action to reduce their exposure below the limit value.
Provide information and training to employees on health risks and the actions you
are taking to control those risks
Keep a record of your risk assessment and control actions and review regularly
Keep health records for employees under health surveillance

8. Your Responsibilities
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 recommend you:
ask to use suitable low vibration tools
Always use the right tool for each job and check tools before use to make sure they
have been properly maintained and repaired to avoid increased vibration caused by
faults or general wear.
Make sure cutting tools are kept sharp so that they remain efficient
Reduce the amount of time you use a tool in one go by doing other jobs in between
Avoid gripping or forcing a tool or workpiece more than you have to
Store tools so that they do not have very cold handles when next used.
Encourage good circulation by keeping warm and dry (when necessary wear
gloves, a hat, waterproofs and heating pads if available).
Give up or cut down smoking as it affects blood circulation and massage or exercise
your fingers during work breaks.

9. HAV Exposure Calculator
The table on this slide can be
used to calculate an
operatives level of exposure
to hand-arm vibration.
The exposure level is
calculated by considering the
vibration magnitude of the
equipment being used and the
length of time it is used per
day.
The exposure action value
(EAV) is set at 100 points per
day.
The exposure limit value
(ELV) is set at 400 points per
day. This should not be
exceeded.

10. HAV Equipment Exposure
The vibration magnitude for a specific tool or
equipment is normally found in the operating
manual but most reputable manufacturers now
make the data available on their websites.
Vibration magnitude: 10m/s
The images on this slide show commonly used
tools in the construction industry and average
vibration magnitudes.
Remember every piece of equipment you use
will have a different vibration magnitude Vibration magnitude: 5.5m/s
depending on its condition and use. e.g.
different grinders will have different vibration
magnitudes.
When multiple tools are used throughout the
day, their exposure values are added together
using the table on the previous slide.
Vibration magnitude: 19m/s

11. Calculating Exposure
Cathy is a stonemason on a construction project in Motherwell. She has been
tasked with indenting a number of stones which requires removing the existing
stones (with a grinder), cutting new stones (with a grinder), inserting supporting
dowels (with a drill) and building the new stones in position. The table below shows
the vibration magnitude of each piece of equipment Cathy used and how long she
used it for.
Nine inch grinder Hammer action drill
Vibration magnitude: 5.5m/s Vibration magnitude: 10m/s
Total period of use: 2 hours Total period of use: 1 hour
Using the exposure calculator we can see that using the
grinder for 2 hours at a VM of 5.5m/s would give a value
of 120 and using the drill at a VM of 10m/s for 1 hour
would give a value of 200.
If we add the values together we get a total
exposure value of 320 which is below the ELV but
above the EAV. This means we need to consider a
range of protection measures for Cathy.

12. Activity
Use the exposure calculator to determine whether the following activities are above
or below the ELV.
Activity 1
Nine inch grinder Polisher
Vibration magnitude: 5.5m/s Vibration magnitude: 4.5m/s
Total period of use: 2 hours Total period of use: 1 hour
Activity 2
Hammer action drill Pneumatic hammer
Vibration magnitude: 10m/s Vibration magnitude: 19m/s
Total period of use: 2 hours Total period of use: 2 hour
Activity 3
Vibrating Poker Vibrating plate compactor
Vibration magnitude: 8m/s Vibration magnitude: 16m/s
Total period of use: 2 hours Total period of use: 1 hour

13. Protection Measures
Use the exposure calculator to determine whether the following activities are above
or below the ELV.

14. References
The information in this presentation has been sourced from:
Hand-arm Vibration Advice for employees: HSE Publications
Control the risks from hand-arm vibration: HSE Publications
http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/

15. Developed by The Stonemasonry Department
City of Glasgow College
2011

16. Health Risks