Many powered tools, equipment or machinery, used in the workplace, can cause injury from vibration, particularly if used for extended periods of time. These injuries can include hand and arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), vibration white finger (VWF) and whole body vibration excavators, dumpers, tractors etc.).

These are non-reversible injuries to blood vessels, muscles, nerves and joints in the hand and arm, and can result in pain and cold sensations, numbness, tingling and loss of sensation, loss of light touch, loss of grip strength or dexterity, blanching or whitening of fingers when exposed to cold, and bone cysts in fingers and wrists.

Sectors using such power tools are concentrated in construction, manufacturing, engineering, motor vehicle repair, mining and quarrying, agriculture, fisheries and in utilities. Hand held tools (such as grinders, hammer drills, needle guns or band saws), hand guided machinery (e.g. lawnmowers, chain saws, or compactors) or hand feeding to vibrating machinery (i.e. pedestal grinders) each provide vibration risks.

All such equipment should be risk assessed for the rate of vibration and safe period of use as outlined in the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 and the European Directive 2002/44/EC. Label Source provide a range of equipment labels, tags and signs for marking such powered tools, and for educating users on best practice to avoid vibration injuries. This can include the use of tensioners to support the weight of tools, provision of suitable personal protective equipment (PPE), instruction and training on correct tool use, as well as regular breaks from use and health screening.

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Hand and Arm Vibration Syndrome can cause significant ill health resulting in long term injuries, affecting the nervous system. This then can lead to numbness in fingers and arms, muscular aches and pains and changes in sensation. This can then be followed by Raynaud’s phenomenon , a painful and disabling disorders of the blood vessels, nerves and joint. Raynaud’s Phenomenon is triggered off buy cold weather, resulting in fingers turning white and cold; then to a blue colour then red. Symptoms can progress if you continue to work with power tools.

Are you at risk of hand and arm vibration syndrome?

Working with any hand held power tools such as

 ·         Concrete breakers

·         Hammer drills

·         Chipping hammer

·         Chainsaws/ hedge trimmer

·         Powered mowers

·         Needle guns

 Then the answer is, yes.

Continue to use these tools and symptoms can become permanent.

Label Source can also help by preventing Hand and Arm Vibration Syndrome. We provide a range of hazard warning safety signs to be displayed in and around the workplace, and labels to be applied to equipment, ensuring that you are taking to right procedures when handling vibration tools. This includes high vibration risk, vibration safety levels and low, medium and high assessment levels. We also provide inspection tags to ensure you that your tools have been maintained. 

If you are worried that you are at risk or may be putting someone at risk by not displaying safety signs please contact our sales office:

On 08003761693 in the UK

or +441443842769 for International calls outside of the UK

or email us on sales@labelsource.co.uk