The information on this page is aimed mainly at workers

• You could be risking damage to nerves, blood vessels and joints of the hand, wrist and arm if you work regularly with hand-held or hand-guided power tools for more than a few hours each day.
• Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) caused by exposure to vibration at work is preventable, but once the damage is done it is permanent.
• The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 were introduced to better protect workers from vibration at work and came into force in July 2005.

Am I at risk?

You are at risk if you regularly use hand-held or handguided power tools and machines such as:

• Concrete breakers, concrete pokers;
• Sanders, grinders, disc cutters;
• Hammer drills;
• Chipping hammers;
• Chainsaws, brush cutters, hedge trimmers,
• Powered mowers;
• Scabblers or needle guns.

You are also at risk if you hold workpieces, which vibrate while being processed by powered machinery such as pedestal grinders.
You are particularly at risk if you regularly operate:

• Hammer action tools for more than about 15 minutes per day; or
• Some rotary and other action tools for more than about one hour per day.

As you are likely to be above the exposure action value set out in the regulations.

What are the early signs and symptoms to look out for?

• Tingling and numbness in the fingers (which can cause sleep disturbance).
• Not being able to feel things with your fingers.
• Loss of strength in your hands (you may be less able to pick up or hold heavy objects).
• In the cold and wet, the tips of your fingers going white then red and being painful on recovery (vibration white finger).

If you continue to use high-vibration tools these symptoms will probably get worse, for example:

• The numbness in your hands could become permanent and you won’t be able to feel things at all;
• You will have difficulty picking up small objects such as screws or nails;
• The vibration white finger could happen more frequently and affect more of your fingers

source: http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/yourhands.htm

vocabulary
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS): Sindrome da vibração de braços e Mãos

Concrete breakers:   Disjuntores de concreto

Sanders, grinders, disc cutters: lixadeiras, esmerilhadeiras, cortadores a disco;

Hammer drills; brocas de martelo;

Chipping hammers;  Chipping martelos;

Chainsaws, brush cutters, hedge trimmers, Motosserras, roçadeiras, hedge

Powered mowers; cortadores de motores

Scabblers or needle guns. desbastadoras ou armas agulha.