Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS): what are an employer’s legal obligations?

Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome builds slowly, tool by tool, shift by shift, until a worker notices their fingers going numb in the cold or they struggle to do up a button. By the time symptoms appear, the damage is often permanent.

HAVS is, in most cases, preventable. Employers have clear legal duties to manage vibration exposure, and where those duties aren’t met, workers who develop Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome may have grounds for a personal injury claim.

What is Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome?

HAVS is a condition affecting the nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and joints of the hand and arm. This occupational disease is caused by regular use of vibrating tools and equipment and develops gradually with repeated exposure rather than from a single incident.

Hand-Arm Vibration symptoms

HAVS symptoms typically include:

• Tingling and numbness in the fingers
• Loss of strength in the hands, making it harder to grip or pick up small objects
• Vibration white finger, where fingers turn white and lose sensation (often triggered by cold temperatures)
• Pain and reduced dexterity

Once symptoms appear, HAVS is generally progressive and can become permanent, even if exposure to vibration stops. Early identification and prevention are key. This is why the legal obligations on employers focus so heavily on limiting exposure before harm occurs.

HAVS and an employer’s legal obligations

The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 set out what employers must do to protect workers who use vibrating tools. The core obligations for employers include:

• Risk assessment. Employers must assess which tasks expose workers to vibration and estimate the likely exposure levels for each role.
• Control of exposure limits. There are two key thresholds:
  • The Exposure Action Value (EAV): the daily exposure level at which employers must take action to control the risk
  • The Exposure Limit Value (ELV): the maximum level of exposure a worker should never exceed in a single day.
  • Where exposure is likely to reach the EAV, employers must take action to prevent the exposure from reaching the limit (ELV).
• Eliminating or reducing exposure at the source. E.g. providing low-vibration tools where possible, maintaining equipment properly (worn or poorly maintained tools often vibrate more), and considering alternative methods that reduce the need for vibrating tools.
• Limiting exposure time. Job rotation, scheduled breaks, and limits on how long any one worker uses a vibrating tool in a day are all recognised control measures.
• Providing PPE. Employers often provide anti-vibration gloves, but the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that gloves alone are not considered an adequate control measure. Gloves can help with gripping the tool and cold protection, but the evidence that they reduce vibration transmitted to the hand is limited. PPE should sit alongside the measures above, not replace them.
• Where there’s a foreseeable risk of HAVS, employers must provide health surveillance to detect symptoms early and act on the results. This may include removing a worker from vibration exposure if problems are identified.
• Training workers on the risks of vibration exposure, how to use tools safely, and how to recognise and report early symptoms.

If an employer fails to carry out any of the above obligations and a worker develops HAVS as a result, this can form the basis of a personal injury claim.

Professions most at risk from Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome

Some roles carry a significantly higher risk of HAVS due to the tools and equipment involved. The jobs most at risk include:

• Construction (where workers frequently use jackhammers, breakers, and power drills)
• Manufacturing and engineering (where grinders, sanders, and impact tools are regularly used by hand)
• Forestry and landscaping (where there is frequent use of chainsaws)
• Vehicle repairs, i.e. car garages (where the use of wrenches and grinding tools is common)

Anyone who has used vibrating tools regularly over a period of years, whether in these professions or not, and particularly without proper controls in place, may be at risk of developing HAVS.

What to do if you develop HAVS symptoms

If you’re experiencing numbness, tingling, or reduced grip strength and you regularly use vibrating tools at work, it’s worth seeking medical and legal advice.

HAVS claims often hinge on whether an employer properly managed exposure over time, so a personal injury solicitor will need to see a record of your tool use and any symptoms (within medical records) when considering your claim.

Contact our industrial disease solicitors today

If you think your work has caused HAVS, we can help. Our personal injury and industrial disease lawyers can assess your situation and explain your options, with no obligation.

Call us on 0117 325 2929 or get in touch to talk to a member of the team.