Health Repetitive trauma from vibration can cause hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Symptoms of this painful condition include numbness, tingling, and loss of hand strength.
Limiting exposure can prevent the onset of HAVS, but once a person has sustained damage, it’s irreversible. Use these four tips to prevent hand-arm vibration syndrome.
Vibration-dampening tools minimize the vibrations workers feel when they use their equipment. Many tool manufacturers now create products with anti-vibration features. For example, a counterbalance inside a rotary hammer can redirect weight to cancel some of the impact force of the tool’s hammer action and reduce vibration.
Use efficient tools to complete jobs more quickly. The more you limit your exposure to vibration, the better you can prevent HAVS.
Anti-vibration gloves provide essential protection against repetitive vibration, one of the most common health risks on construction sites. Wearing these gloves will protect your palms, and to a lesser extent, your fingers. They offer the most protection from high-frequency vibrations, such as those from tools like grinders and saws.
The gloves’ design can promote healthy hand positioning. Avoid wearing excessively thick gloves that increase the grip force required to handle your tools. Bulky gloves can increase hand and arm injuries and even pass more vibrations into your hands and arms.
The next tip for preventing hand-arm vibration syndrome is to keep your hands warm as you use power tools. Cold hands amplify the risk of vibrations.
Gloves and hand warmers can help to prevent your hands from getting too cold. Choose between disposable, refillable, and rechargeable hand warmers. You’ll protect yourself from HAVS, feel more comfortable, and preserve more dexterity in your fingers.
Finally, don’t grip tools too tightly. Hold tools firmly, but don’t strain yourself, as this can amplify the damaging effects of vibrations.
Periodically change your holding position to limit strain on specific areas of your hands and arms. Take 10- to 15-minute breaks for every hour of tool use.
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