Is vibration white finger related to grip?

[agrimog]

sustained use of a hedgecutter is more likley to cause whitefinger than a saw, having seen the tests carried out by my LA, i was very surprised at the HAV test results, even strimmers were comming in with higher readings than most of the saws, only a couple of big older ones were causing a little concern, it seems the higher frequency vibrations are the risky ones, and not everyone is effected the same.

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

This might be a little controversial but conventional chainsaw training States we grip the saw firmly with thumbs wrapped around. After 18 years I have many many bad habits but one thing I observed the other day was how loose of a grip I actually have when using a chainsaw. I do not necessarily wrap my thumb, in fact most of the time I probably don't, instead holding the chainsaw however best it feels. So I was wondering how all this effects the onset of white finger, particularly interested in sufferers own evaluations of the grip/cutting style.

 

I must state I'm not advocating my lax method of cutting at all

 

Hi Steve, I'm a HAVS sufferer and have only about 75% grip strength in my right hand (according to the consultant from some years ago.)

 

This was a relatively short-term onset thing in my case and stemmed from an intense 6-8 week period of almost daily use of an old Stihl 076 during the 1990 storms which hit up north. My opinion is that because of both the weight of the saw ('bulk-head') and the type of cutting, i.e. big rings cross-cutting to hand-ball size, I did grip the rear-handle throughout and that must have contributed to the damage. Doubtless the fact it was mainly hardwoods too, and in particularly Beech n Oak, also meant I/the saw worked harder to cut through.

 

I don't so much suffer white finger, perse, but do get very cold hands very quickly but it's more my palms that become very tender and my grip fails.

 

hence why I now push a (light-weight) pen in the office.

 

Cheers..

Paul

[Mick Dempsey]

I've got an 076 that we bring out occasionally and the vibes are quite intense.

I would not want to use that all day!

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

....and not everyone is effected the same.

 

Exactly.

 

At a previous HSE workshop the H&S Doctors were really pushing the need for effective 'Health Surveillance' for HAVS (and Noise Induced Hearing Loss - NIHL) which is a legal duty for employers.

 

See Hand arm vibration - Health surveillance for further info and you can do the Stage 1 assessments 'in-house' (but data-protection applies as personal information) and then refer to OHS 'HAVS specialists' (not GP) any concerns / need for Stage 2 assessment.

 

 

Cheers..

Paul

[Macpherson]

I agree that the higher frequency of the vibes the greater the risk, back in the 70`s when I was an apprentice fitter we were made aware of the problem as part of our training and it was quite a big issue throughout industry, particularly with anyone who regularly used high speed air tools 20-30,000 rpm.

Having said that, it`s the strimmer that numbs my fingers quickest now, I always try to remind myself to relax my grip and I always wear anti-vibe gloves which make a huge difference. cheers

[Darrin Turnbull]

I'm no expert but i think whether your hands are cold or not will make more difference.

[stihlmadasever]

I've got an 076 that we bring out occasionally and the vibes are quite intense.

I would not want to use that all day!

 

We sometimes use 044's and you can feel the difference in havs when going back to the newer saws with all the anti vibration technology on them.Its a brave man who would use an 076 all day thats for sure mick

[oldwoodcutter]

Ime no expert on white fingers, but the worst culprit to my mind is the hs45 hedge trimmers, due to the fact you have to have a good grip of the top and back handle to ensure you're cutting accurately, and to support it of course.

Often after a days connie trimming my fingers are still tingling during the drive home.

[Darrin Turnbull]

What about using gel gloves.

[mendiplogs]

This might be a little controversial but conventional chainsaw training States we grip the saw firmly with thumbs wrapped around. After 18 years I have many many bad habits but one thing I observed the other day was how loose of a grip I actually have when using a chainsaw. I do not necessarily wrap my thumb, in fact most of the time I probably don't, instead holding the chainsaw however best it feels. So I was wondering how all this effects the onset of white finger, particularly interested in sufferers own evaluations of the grip/cutting style.

 

I must state I'm not advocating my lax method of cutting at all

 

Hi Steve heated handles and gloves seem to help me mate thanks Jon