Vibration white finger (VWF) is a painful industrial disease. Also known as Traumatic Vasospastic Disease, Dead Fingers or Spastic Anaemia and Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), it is caused by continuous use of vibrating, hand-held machinery. It is not clear how vibration causes the condition. The likely cause is the slight but repeated injury to the small nerves and blood vessels in the fingers. Over time, these may gradually lose some of their function and cause symptoms of VWF to occur.
If you are suffering the effects of VWF, talk to our personal injury solicitors. We have long term experience in achieving excellent settlements for clients who have suffered due to the negligence of their employer, including in complex cases against multiple employers.
We offer no win, no fee arrangements (also known as Conditional Fee Arrangements or (CFAs) for our clients. This means if you do not receive compensation, you will not have to pay any legal fees.
Call: 01429 225200The symptoms of industrial white finger may be mild at first. However, if you continue to use vibrating machinery, they are likely to become worse over time. As the condition develops, numbness becomes permanent.
If you work with vibrating tools or machinery and notice the signs of HAVS, you need to seek medical advice immediately. Tests to diagnose HAVS may include checking your grip strength, your ability to perform fine hand movements and the response of your fingers to cold. The condition will not go away on its own. You also need to notify your employer and have yourself taken off duties that involve using vibrating tools or machinery.
VWF can affect nerves, joints, muscles, blood vessels or connective tissues of the hand and forearm.
VWF symptoms may recede if you stop using vibration tools and machinery early enough, but often the condition is permanent.
Symptoms of VWF include blanching of fingers (hence ‘white finger’) and pins and needles. VWF is often accompanied by pain and aching, which leads to numbness and a lack of coordination. Often the symptoms do not appear for some years, even if you use vibrating tools continuously for a long period.
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 require employers to prevent or reduce risks to health and safety from exposure to vibration at work. This includes taking specific action when exposure to vibration reaches a certain level. The exposure action value (EAV) is a daily amount of vibration exposure above which employers are required to act to control exposure.
Our specialist industrial injury lawyers have successfully secured significant settlements for clients who have suffered from VWF because their employer has not adequately managed the risk of their exposure or provided adequate training on how to prevent the condition developing.
Many HAVS claimants worry that they will have to face their employer in court. It is important to remember that your employer will have insurance to cover any negligence claims. In addition, due to our extensive experience in bringing VWF claims, in almost all cases a settlement is reached well before the court date.
Our specialist industrial injury lawyers have successfully secured significant settlements for clients who have suffered from VWF. We offer no win, no fee arrangements for our clients too. This means that if you do not receive compensation, you will not have to pay any legal fees.
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