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Hand Arm Vibration (HAV)WHAT IS HAND ARM VIBRATION?Hand-arm vibration is vibration transmitted into your hands and arms when you use handheldpowered work equipment. Too much exposure to hand-arm vibration can causehand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and carpel tunnel syndrome.WHAT IS HAND-ARM VIBRATION SYNDROME?• HAVS affects the nerves, blood vessels, muscles and joints of the hand, wrist and arm.• It can become severely disabling if ignored.SAFETY INFORMATION• It includes vibration white finger, which can cause severe pain in the affected fingers.WHEN AM I AT RISK?You are at risk if you regularly use hand-held or hand-guided power tools and machinessuch as:• Concrete breakers, concrete pokers;• Hammer drills;• Chain saws, brush cutters,hedge trimmers, powered mowers;• Sanders, grinders, disc cutters;• Chipping hammers;• Scabblers or needle guns.You are also at risk if you hold workpieces which vibrate while being processed bypowered machinery such as pedestal grindersHIREBASE’S POLICY• We are committed to assisting and advising all our customers on the impact ofvibration in their businesses.• We are working closely with our tool suppliers to provide the best power toolpackage in the hire industry.• We aim to supply machines that are ‘best in class’ where possible and practical todo so, with the best combination of reduced vibration and performance and takinginto account the age of our hire stock. This will ensure that the operator is exposedto the lowest level and duration of vibration as possible. We will continually workwith our suppliers to improve the performance and safety of our hire fleet.• We will ensure that our staff are trained in HAVS issues so that we can advise ourcustomers on vibration.• We will supply written instructions with all machines on the correct and safeoperation of tools and offer verbal instruction and demonstrations at the point ofhire. Leaflets on HAVS are available to all customers at all our Hirebase Centres.7For more information on hand-arm vibration, see HSE’s free leaflet Control the risks from handarmvibration INDG175(rev2) or visit HSE’s vibration website at www.hse.gov.uk/vibration