Do you suffer with HAVS/white finger?

[TRADITIONAL LOGGERS]

Apart from the A65 I started the business with (with no chainbrake) all chainsaws have heated handles and we all wear good leather gloves so "touch wood" no issues to date.

 

The new clearings are also now available with warm handles.

[Graham S]

Short handled stihl hedge cutter = 4hrs 37 mins trigger time

 

Long handled stihl hedge cutter= 1hr 16 mins trigger time

 

Blower = 5hrs 29 mins trigger time

 

Chainsaw 0200 t =1hr 11mins

 

and after being diagnosed with stage 1 havs thats the recommended time per day for trigger times also we have to fill in trigger time time sheets so we comply with hse rules .

[Graham]

I have it fairly bad. Been using saws etc for 35yrs. Starts in little fingers and moves along to others. Thumb is never affected.

The colder it is the worse it is and even get in the summer at times.

[bob]

Interesting thread

I am in early stages and now reduce my exposure

1 Buy saws with Heated handles

2 Keep buying newer saws as they vibrate less and less

3 More attention to sharpening and esp cutter lengths

4 keep chain tight

5 Allow others to use them where poss

6 Wear gloves

Sure there are more but it,s a start

[tommer9]

Do you think that might be from your mason work though Tom and not tree work ?

 

I do wonder about that, but have spent longer around chainsaws than chisels etc. I reckon that it had a severe effect on it though-possibly the original cause- handling cold chisels and cold stone cannot be helpful. Maybe that started it and getting back to full time trees has just brought out an existing problem caused by the stonework. Stonework has to be the most physically punishing work there is. One of the guys in the Male Voice Choir i sing in was a stonemason, and he lost a finger to HAVS...but then he worked in a granite quarry with some hideous machinery to shape that stuff.

[Mesterh]

Sounds like some of you suffer quite badly.

 

Seems as though it does affect a fairly high percentage, a lot higher than I thought there would be!

 

Cheers for the info and comments, always good to highlight stuff like this that can creep up on you without knowing.

 

Bob, a good few nice little tips there too, especially number 5.

 

 

I wonder if stuff like aspirin will help as that thins the blood and can help with circulation.

[Arctostaphylos uva-ursi]

I thought I did. But I was recently diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I have had the op for it so hopefully all is well now.

[Mesterh]

I thought I did. But I was recently diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I have had the op for it so hopefully all is well now.

 

Also seems another 'popular' problem with arbs.

 

Could be worthy of its own poll.

 

 

What symptoms did you have if you dont mind me asking?

 

Hope the op sorts it out.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

im told the older dan arm generation had it the worst

[ARBOR8]

Hi all, my first post on here. With regaurds to white finger, sounds like i am lucky, 31 years in business now and i can say i do not suffer from this at all. May be because i wear gloves all the time. Well for the last 10 years or so.