Fingers going white in the cold? What hand-arm vibration does to tradespeople and how to limit it

The UK Health and Safety Executive lists the early signs of hand-arm vibration syndrome as tingling and numbness, losing feel in the fingertips and weaker grip. In cold, wet weather the tips go white, then red, and hurt as the blood returns. HSE says the damage can be prevented but is permanent once done; with continued exposure the numbness can become constant and attacks spread to more fingers. LHSFNA, the safety fund of the laborers' union, says HAVS can appear within six months and notes that OSHA has no vibration standard.

Dose is vibration times trigger time. UK rules set an action value of 2.5 m/s² averaged over eight hours, which HSE's calculator counts as 100 points, and a limit of 5 m/s², or 400 points. HSE says hammer-action tools usually pass the action value after about 15 minutes a day, some rotary tools after about an hour. A Swedish study of 193 carpenters measured impact drills at 8 to 15 m/s², impact wrenches at 5 to 9 and screwdrivers at 3 to 4. At 10 m/s², the HSE method reaches 100 points in 30 minutes. In that study, 31% of carpenters had nerve damage signs against 17% of painters, including 12% of carpenters aged 30 or under.

What lowers the dose, per HSE and OSHA guidance cited by the fund: low-vibration tools, sharp bits and blades, maintained tools, shorter stints broken up by other work, breaks of 10 to 15 minutes each hour, a light grip, and warm, dry hands. HSE adds that tools should not be stored where the handles get cold. A NIOSH study found anti-vibration gloves cannot be relied on.

The Swedish researchers found cold sensitivity, numbness and pain in cold fingers were the usual first symptoms, and urged regular hand checks so damage is caught early.