Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome Associated with Impact Vibration

Abstract

The data from 141 hand-arm vibration exposed workers examined for hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) was analyzed in a Cox regression model to determine whether smoking, alcohol, the use of gloves, duration of weighted vibration exposure, and vibration impulsiveness affected the rate of onset of Raynaud's phenomenon. The results show that workers with HAVS were more likely to be smokers. No association with alcohol was detected, but none of the men were heavy drinkers. While weighted acceleration levels affected the latent interval for finger blanching, the strongest association was with impulsiveness from high-level impact pneumatic tools (identified by a 20 dB or more difference between the weighted L_eq component and the corresponding weighted peak acceleration in the dominant direction). This association had only been recognised previously in pedestal grinders, so its recognition in multiple hand tools has important implications for prevention methodology development and standard setting. The use of gloves was found to reduce the risk from high-level impact pneumatic tools.