Claiming HAVS CompensationFor Hand Arm Vibration SyndromeWhat Is It? HAVS can cause pain in your fingers, hands, and arms, especially if you use hand held vibrating tools. Formerly called vibration white finger, HAVS was given a new name due to the many other symptoms that may develop from the syndrome beyond white fingers. How is HAVS Caused? Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome is caused by the overuse or frequent use of hand held vibrating tools. Tools like power drills, chainsaws, and pneumatic drills, for example. HAVS can also develop by holding any machine you use at work that vibrates.
What Are the Symptoms of HAVS? Because one in ten people who work with vibrating tools may develop HAVS it is considered a serious condition by the medical community. Symptoms can include Raynaud’s phenomenon where a worker can develop white fingers. Other symptoms include nerve damage and muscular aches and pains. Further, once you have HAVS, Raynaud’s can be triggered by cold weather or touching a cold object. Raynaud’s phenomenon usually occurs in stages. First, your fingers may appear white and cool when the blood vessels narrow. Next, your fingers may appear blue in colour from oxygen depletion and the narrowing of blood vessels. Finally, your fingers will become a bright red colour due to the blood vessels opening up which can cause tingling, throbbing, and pain. You may still suffer from Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome even if you don’t have the exact symptoms as outlined above. Instead, you may develop pain and pale or cold fingers. This pain or finger coldness can be short or long in duration and the amount of pain varies from person to person. Once the symptoms of HAVS subside, you may still have one or more bluish fingers. Other symptoms that may develop can be numbness or tingling or if you have HAVS and don’t seek treatment, you could have permanent numbness or clumsiness or difficulty in performing tasks like fastening your buttons, handling coins, or threading needles. At times only one finger may be affected enough to cause these symptoms. Aches and pain can occur due to damages in the muscles, bones, and joints and your ability to grip things may become weak. You may even develop Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome if you used vibrating hand tools years ago and have now stopped. In this case you are still entitled to claim HAVS compensation.
It is your employer’s responsibility to ensure that your work environment is safe but if you feel you are experiencing symptoms of HAVS, then you should see a doctor immediately. You should also report your concerns to your employer whether through a work nurse or work doctor if your company has these available. If you belong to a union, you should speak to your union representative about your HAVS symptoms for help on improving your work environment. If you do speak to your employer and a doctor has diagnosed you with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, and your employer does nothing what should you do? What Should I Do Once I Have Been Diagnosed with HAVS? No one likes to make a HAVS compensation claim against their employers, but often, careless employers can create a work environment that can cause HAVS and in this case you are entitled to help. If you have been diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome and your employer has done nothing to help you, there are many solicitors who offer their services on a no win, no fee basis, meaning that if they don’t win for you, you pay them nothing. Hand arm vibration syndrome compensation is your legal right and any should have no qualms about contacting a specialist solicitor to help you pursue a claim. Related Articles
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