What is Hand Arm Vibration?

Hand-arm vibration syndrome or HAVS is a condition that can occur to workers completing repetitive tasks that work with vibrating tools (Eg: drills, power tools and sheet metal saws). Hand arm vibration training is crucial to members of staff who works with these tools as the long-term effects of HAVS mean it can severely impact their living conditions. Havs is most common in construction workers, miners and mechanics so anyone working within this industry should receive adequate HAVS training.

What are the symptoms of HAVS?

There are a range of symptoms that characterise Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome some of the most common are: Tingling or Numbness; Reduced Sensitivity; Loss of Dexterity; Muscle Weakness; Pain or Discomfort; Changes in Skin Color or Texture.

What are the long-term effects of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome?

The long term effects of HAVS isn’t a good situation for anyone. Individuals that are suffering can see a loss in their nerves and impair their fine motor skills meaning that routine daily tasks can’t be done. Not only this but Hand Arm Vibration can lead to constant chronic pain in the hands, wrists and arms. This loss of control may mean that the individual never works again and that is why Hand Arm Vibration training is important. It is important to recognise the early warning signs of HAVS and take steps to prevent further exposure to hand-arm vibrations. Proper training, the use of vibration-dampening tools, and implementing control measures to minimize vibration exposure are crucial in reducing the risk of developing HAVS.

Hand Arm Vibration Awareness (HAVS) Training

Exposure to vibration may not sound particularly dangerous, but the effects are accumulative, progressive, and irreversible. However, they’re also preventable. This Hand Arm Vibration Awareness Training course looks at the effects of hand-arm vibration, who’s at risk, how to recognise the damage it causes, and what can be done to reduce harmful exposure. This course is CPD accredited.

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There were over 7,000 new claims for HAVS from 2008 to 2017

Health & Safety
40 languages
15m

Learning outcomes

Learn about and work towards compliance with The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005
Learn how to recognise the early signs of HAVS and what to do to make sure the damage doesn't become permanent
Understand employer responsibilities and what you can do to keep others safe

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Covered in this course

Course contents

This training course is broken down into 2 sections

1
What is Hand-arm Vibration?
2
Understanding Your Responsibilities

Section 1

Hand-arm vibration or HAV is exactly what it sounds like – it is vibration which affects your hands and arms. This section looks at how working with vibrating tools can affect your health. We look at Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and explain exactly how the stages of this illness progress and what happens at each stage.

Section 2

In this part of hand-arm vibration training, we look at the regulations, safe exposure levels and exposure limits. We look at what your employer should do to keep you safe and what you can do to help yourself to stay safe. This section includes a vibration exposure look-up table, to give you an idea of how long you can safely use a tool and at what point you MUST stop.

About this course

Regular exposure to vibrations can lead to a number of debilitating conditions; the two most common are Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).

Both conditions can cause numbness, weakness, pain, and, if left untreated, loss of control in a person’s hands; it’s important that you’re able to recognise the early warning signs and know when your exposure exceeds safe limits so you can act before the damage becomes permanent.

Both you and your employer have a responsibility to make sure that you’re safe at work. Your employer is responsible for monitoring and limiting your exposure to vibrations, for making sure that you’re properly trained and have all the information you need to stay safe, and for providing protective equipment. You have a duty to follow their safety instructions and to properly use/ wear any safety equipment they provide. Understand your responsibilities as an employee or employer and avoid HAVS with our Hand/Arm Vibration Awareness Training.

This is a core Health & Safety course designed for workers in the Construction and Manufacturing industries, or more generally, anyone who works with heavy machinery likely to expose them to regular vibrations.

People at risk of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome may also be interested in our Personal Protective Equipment Training and/or our General Workshop Safety Training.

Presented by

Sophie Cohen

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