VIBRATION
HAV is expanded as hand-arm vibration-exposure of
occupational vibration is possible with such tools which create vibration that
includes hydraulic, pneumatic, electric, and hand tools powered by gasoline.
Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is exposure to fingers and hands; a
generally irreversible condition is called as HAVS.
EFFECTS-
HAVS is disorder as cumulative trauma and it can be
known when one feel numbness in fingers or he may have tingling too. Primarily,
it results in damage to blood vessels and nerves of hand resulting in skin
blanching (white finger) on use of exposure to cold, together with pain, pins
and needles, numbness and loss of manual dexterity. These symptoms are many
times taken as frostbite when workers do not know properly. If you smoke you
are at increased risk since smoking reduces supply of oxygenated blood to your
hands and fingers. main way to prevent Vibration White Finger is to reduce
levels of vibration by careful selection of equipment, introduction of damping
techniques on existing equipment if practicable, use of alternative work
procedures if possible, and to minimize time working with vibrating machinery
by job rotation.
Control:
• Wear adequate clothing to keep dry and maintain
hand and body temperature at an acceptable level, wear suitable gloves to keep
your hands warm. Anti vibration gloves are available which can reduce exposure.
·
Let the machine
do the work and grip the handle as lightly as possible, providing that this is
consistent with safe working practice.
• Do not use blunt tools. Keep steels sharp and use
the appropriate tool for the job. • If you smoke and use vibratory equipment
you are at increased risk of vibration related disease, since nicotine reduces
the blood supply to the hands and fingers.
• Should attacks of white or blue finger or long
periods of tingling and/or numbness occur, report this to your Supervisor,
Magnitude of HAV is quantified as acceleration rate in as meters per second
squared (m/s2). This is an engineering unit. It should be matter of concern
when one exposed to HAV and it occurs within definite frequency range i.e.
nominally 5.6Hz to 1400Hz as identified in ISO 5349.
