HAVS Basics: Health Focus, Controls, PPE, Common Pitfalls, and Health Surveillance

1. HAV Review –IOSH South Wales Jim Maccall

2. Session Plan • HAVS Basics • Health Focus • Controls / Assessment • PPE • Common Pitfalls • Health Surveillance

3. What is HAVS? “I know it like the back of my hand” Complicated bits of kit!

4. What is HAVS? HAVS – Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome includes more than one condition including: Vibration White Finger Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

5. Vibration White Finger (VWF) • Symptoms – • Permanent loss of feeling in their fingers • Blanching of finger • Long-term damage can lead to Gangrene

7. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

8. Scale of issue? 1997 to 1998 Survey – 288,000 sufferers Approx. 500 new cases diagnosed per annum 11% of cases are women High risk activities were extraction i.e. mining Current high risk industries?

9. HSE Health Focus • UK Fatality rate – 2017 • 25 work at height deaths • 31 struck by moving vehicle

10. HSE Health Focus • UK Fatality rate – 2017 – fatalities per 100,000 workers

11. HSE Health Focus Construction • 10,000 - premature deaths linked to construction dust • 1,000 – mental well-being – Suicide • 2,300 per 100,000 workers with Musculoskeletal Disorders • 75% of civil claims are for noise induced hearing loss

12. Managing the Risk Risk Assessing is simply done: • Look at the whole job • How many workers • What kit is being used • Get reliable vibration data • Add K = Uncertainty if using manufacturers data • Measure trigger time

13. Getting Reliable Data http://www.thetooladvisor.com/

14. Typical Vibration Values and Trigger Times values in m/s2 (Metres Per Second Squared)

15. Exposure Action Value • EAV • If employees are exposed to vibration above this value then action must be taken to reduce exposure • EAV is 2.5m/s2 A(8) or 100 Exposure Points • A(8) = average over 8 working hours • Actions are based on your Risk Assessment

16. Exposure Limit Value • ELV • Employees must not be exposed to vibration above this value • ELV is 5m/s2 A(8) or 400 Exposure Points • A(8) = average over 8 working hours • Lots of equipment and operations are likely to expose workers to a vibration dose above and beyond the Limit Value

17. Measuring Trigger Time You could use: A best guess! A stop watch - operated by 2nd person A timer linked to the power source A timer activated by vibration that also monitors points e.g. The HAVi A vibration management system e.g. HAVMETER from Reactec

18. So how does HAVi work on site? Retrofitted to any tool Vibration magnitude Colour coded Flashing Light HSE points Heavy Duty Operated remotely Trigger time

19. Personal Protective Equipment Can PPE help? Can Anti Vibration gloves help? 6.3 to 200 Hz Gloves??

20. Common Pitfalls Putting it in a box Estimating trigger time Doubling the m/s2 provided by the manufacturer

21. Maths Manufacturer declared magnitude of 5.4 m/s2 Equation time! HSE Vibration Points per hour Points =n(1 hour) = 2 x (ahv)2 In other words: (magnitude x magnitude) x 2 k – Uncertainty 2.7 m/s2

22. Maths (5.4 x 5.4) x 2 = 58.32 Points per hour K = 2.7 add this to the declared value = (8.1 x 8.1) x 2 = 131.22 points per hour! So adding the K allows for the worst case and still doubles the manufacturers value

23. Common Pitfalls Putting it in a box Estimating trigger time Doubling the m/s2 provided by the manufacturer Using 5m/s2A(8) / 400 vibration points as a target rather than a limit Poor health surveillance / work history questionnaires Ignoring 10% of women and 5% of men who may have Raynauds Primary!

24. Health Surveillance

25. Conclusion Remember HAVS has no cure but its progress can be halted Its now easier to prevent than ever Job risk assessment should aim to keep exposure below 100 points per person Legal limit is 400 points in 1 shift – for emergencies! HAVi is a simple essential piece of PPE HAVi offer consultancy, 1 day IOSH HAV ME and short duration courses for supervisors and operatives

26. Self-Promotion Warning

27. Training for Hire have moved to the Trainers Arms