A dilemma about hand-arm vibration

[Tilia]

I’m wondering if anyone has any thoughts or advice about a health-related dilemma that’s really upsetting me at the moment.

 

I work in environmental conservation and use chainsaws regularly (on the ground and occasionally climbing), as well as other machines like brushcutters. I work for a conservation group which regularly screens employees for symptoms of HAVS (hand-arm vibration syndrome).

 

Since I’ve been on the tools, which is only about 3 years, I’ve almost always had a numbness in my left hand after using vibrating machinery for an extended period. I also get wrist pains occasionally (though I get that after practical work alone, without the use of tools) and a burning sensation in my hand (which I remember getting at uni, before I’d even been exposed to vibes). This has led me to think that if anything I have carpal tunnel syndrome in this hand, which vibrating machines probably make worse but didn’t initially cause.

 

However, I absolutely love working in woodland conservation and with trees, and I enjoy the arb/climbing side too. So my dilemma is, do I mention this numbness in a HAVS test at work? If I do this, I will probably be given an immediate positive result and removed from the tools, and thus be pretty much redundant in my job – the end of a dream, really, as I’d have to give up a job I absolutely love and want to do more than any other. If I don’t mention it, the problem will probably get worse, until I begin to lose feeling and function in my hand - which isn’t attractive either. In reality, the sensation is not really a big problem at the moment, but it's one of the "early warning signs" that the HSE advise to watch out for, so it's on my mind.

 

I’m interested to know if anyone out there has been in a similar position, or is an employer who has to deal with this problem in their staff? I’d like to think that occupational health testers would realise that it’s CTS and not the circulatory problems associated with vibration, and perhaps suggest surgery or medication. However, the likelihood is that they would simply class it as “HAVS” and give me a positive result, which would then go back to my employer.

 

Does anyone know if employers are likely to reduce one’s daily vibration exposure limit, or completely take me off tools – meaning I’d have to leave my dream job, as well as meaning I’ve wasted all the money I’ve spent on training? I’m really not sure what to do and any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated… I know I should mention this feeling in tests, but I’m scared that instead of trying to solve the issue, occupation health will simply say I cannot do my job and that will be the end of my career that I love.

[fergusonforestry]

HAVS test very hard to cheat im afraid, we get monitered for it regularly with a questionare so that you could lie through yer teeth but if you have the full test it will find it if you have it, there are various staged and having it doesn't neccesarily mean you will get taken of the tools, recently we have started using reactec Home monitering system some of our guys who have HAVS just have a lower number of points they can use in a day (i would add the dam things keep dropping off the saws though! )

[Dan Frazer Gardening]

Not sure how it works but the tools should be pro models with acceptable vibration levels. If they are not you should be able to approach it as a need for specific equipment to enable you to do your job safely. What models of gear do you use?

[fergusonforestry]

you might be surprised by vibration levels on pro kit all but one of our stihls has a red tag based on our traffic light system green-low, orange-med, red-high vibration, one of our guys used up his daily points qouta (with reactec meter) in 12 minutes with an ms660!, all our kit gets tested and tagged before issued, pole saw is shockingly high!

[Stubby]

I’m wondering if anyone has any thoughts or advice about a health-related dilemma that’s really upsetting me at the moment.

 

I work in environmental conservation and use chainsaws regularly (on the ground and occasionally climbing), as well as other machines like brushcutters. I work for a conservation group which regularly screens employees for symptoms of HAVS (hand-arm vibration syndrome).

 

Since I’ve been on the tools, which is only about 3 years, I’ve almost always had a numbness in my left hand after using vibrating machinery for an extended period. I also get wrist pains occasionally (though I get that after practical work alone, without the use of tools) and a burning sensation in my hand (which I remember getting at uni, before I’d even been exposed to vibes). This has led me to think that if anything I have carpal tunnel syndrome in this hand, which vibrating machines probably make worse but didn’t initially cause.

 

However, I absolutely love working in woodland conservation and with trees, and I enjoy the arb/climbing side too. So my dilemma is, do I mention this numbness in a HAVS test at work? If I do this, I will probably be given an immediate positive result and removed from the tools, and thus be pretty much redundant in my job – the end of a dream, really, as I’d have to give up a job I absolutely love and want to do more than any other. If I don’t mention it, the problem will probably get worse, until I begin to lose feeling and function in my hand - which isn’t attractive either. In reality, the sensation is not really a big problem at the moment, but it's one of the "early warning signs" that the HSE advise to watch out for, so it's on my mind.

 

I’m interested to know if anyone out there has been in a similar position, or is an employer who has to deal with this problem in their staff? I’d like to think that occupational health testers would realise that it’s CTS and not the circulatory problems associated with vibration, and perhaps suggest surgery or medication. However, the likelihood is that they would simply class it as “HAVS” and give me a positive result, which would then go back to my employer.

 

Does anyone know if employers are likely to reduce one’s daily vibration exposure limit, or completely take me off tools – meaning I’d have to leave my dream job, as well as meaning I’ve wasted all the money I’ve spent on training? I’m really not sure what to do and any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated… I know I should mention this feeling in tests, but I’m scared that instead of trying to solve the issue, occupation health will simply say I cannot do my job and that will be the end of my career that I love.

 

I had carpel tunnel syndrome in my right hand wrist . I did not think it was due to working with saws but to do with my construction . At the time ( years ago ) I was fit , strong and quite muscley . ( Sad old git now ) I have small hands and narrow joints ( knees wrists etc ) Accentuating my once physical look . The problem is There is not enough room for the tendons and nerves to pass through the wrist area ( c. p.) and when you exert ( pump up ) there is nerve compression which leads to numbness and loss of feeling . Have the opp . I did . Day surgery . In and out . Sorted . . Wish I was young and strong again !

[Paul Jenks]

You could use anti-vibe gloves, though they are very expensive and last about a day if you use them for anything other than holding a chainsaw. As said earlier the polesaw/hedge cutter combo's are way over the limits at about 10.2m/s/s, which means that you can use it for about 30 minutes with gloves and shouldn't be used at all without.

Keeping your hands warm and using a loose grip will also help.

[Pedroski]

Tilia, if I were you I'd go to the doc or see a specialist and perhaps you'll be able to get a diagnosis of CTS. That way, you might be able to pre-empt the HAVS testers automatically giving a positive HAVS result.

 

Also, what model machines are you using? And are you using gloves? Some gloves are quite good at reducing the effect of vibes - they don't have to be expensive ones marketed as anti-vibe. The sort in the picture below are good. Even though they are described as winter work gloves, we use this sort all year round and they good. Also, look at how you are using the machines as well. A tight grip makes things worse, especially for things like trigger finger. And on brushcutters, do you have the handles in the most comfortable position? And your posture too - all these things affect how you handle stuff.

 

Edited July 18, 2012 by Pedroski

[Frankie Lawrence]

you might be surprised by vibration levels on pro kit all but one of our stihls has a red tag based on our traffic light system green-low, orange-med, red-high vibration, one of our guys used up his daily points qouta (with reactec meter) in 12 minutes with an ms660!, all our kit gets tested and tagged before issued, pole saw is shockingly high!

 

Out of interest I assume you don't stick to these rules? Surely it's not viable?

[easy-lift guy]

I am of the opinion that HAVS and or repetitive motion injuries can be reduced with the use of my product know as the Easy-Lift Harness. I have had a number of members that have told me that besides the time it takes to perform a certain task being reduced, the amount of vibration from the various implements used in conjunction with the ELH is significantly reduced as well. Less time with the implements means less stress and strain, esp for the power pole pruners and the extended power hedgers.

Health and Safety Executive - Agriculture - 4.6 (a) Using Pole pruners and brush cutters - lifting harness

easy-lift guy

[fergusonforestry]

no its not, someone really needs to do some industry specific research, might be ok if you use drills etc but saws seems unworkable at times, course an unscrupulous person might just take their meter off when the levels met