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Vibration 5.2

Vibration

Vibration is a mechanical oscillation of an object, occur about an equilibrium point. Vibration
enters the body while using powered tools e.g. jackhammer

The common health effects associated with vibration includes:

• Hand Arm Vibration
• Whole Body Vibration

Hand Arm Vibration

Hand-arm vibration is vibration transmitted into
workers’ hands and arms. This can come from use of
hand-held power tools (such as grinders or road
breakers), hand-guided equipment (such as powered
lawnmowers or pedestrian controlled floor saws) or by
holding materials being worked by hand-fed machines
(such as pedestal grinders or forge hammers).

Regular and frequent exposure to hand-arm vibration
can lead to

• hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS); and
• carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Symptoms and Effects of HAVS

Vibration white finger (VWF) – shuts down the supply of blood to the fingers, finger turn
blanching and becoming red with painful on recovery, reducing ability to work in cold or damp
conditions.

Muscle weakening - loss of strength in the hands which might affect manual dexterity.

Symptoms of both may come and go, but with continued exposure to vibration they may
become prolonged or permanent and cause pain, distress, and sleep disturbance. This can
happen after only a few months of exposure, but in most cases, it will happen over a few years.

POSHE V2 | Unit IG2 – Element 5 – Physical and Psychological 12
Health