HAS YOUR DOCTOR MENTIONED THESE TERMS TO YOU?
It has been established for some years now that the use of power tools can cause damage in the hands of manual workers which can give rise to a claim for compensation against employers. The condition is commonly called Vibration White Finger or Occupational Raynaud's phenomenon. The collective name for injuries to nerves, musles and blood vessels caused by hand transmitted vibration is Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome or HAVS.
HAVE YOU IN THE PAST OR DO YOU NOW USE VIBRATING TOOLS OR EQUIPMENT?
Workers can develop Vibration White Finger if they repeatedly hold vibrating tools or regularly work with equipment that vibrates. The type of tool, the way the tool is held, the length of use of the tool, the state of the tool and the temperature in which the tool is used are all factors that can play a major role in determining whether this industrial disease can develop and how severely it will affect the victims.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS?
It is called Vibration White Finger because this describes the main symptom of the condition. Fingers can go white, caused by poor circulation which destroys blood vessels and tissue. Other symptoms include tingling, numbness and aching and the disease can reach a point where it becomes irreversible and in extreme, and fortunately rare cases, can lead to amputation.
Nerve entrapment or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is another condition that can be associated with vibratory tools. There is a nerve that travels down the arm into the hand which can become squeezed due to repeated wrist movements, as experienced when using vibrating tools or equipment, and as it passes through a narrow path in the wrist it causes pressure on the wrist. The fingers and thumb can tingle and go numb. In severe conditions they may even feel paralysed. An operation to release the pressure is often needed.
YOU MIGHT BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION
We would like to hear from you if you've ever used, for example, one of the following tools in your job:
Angle grinders, Band Saws, Banjacks or Beltsanders, Cement strippers, Chain saws, Die grinders, Concrete finishers, Core drills, Chisel or chipping hammers, Impact wrenches, Jigger picks, Lawn mowers, Needle scalers, Nibblers, Polishing machines, Power floats, Ratchet wrenches and Rock drills.
If you would like to obtain free expert legal advice either:
- Call us free, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
on 08000 111 301 (Andrew Lewis)
(*a voicemail service is provided out-of-hours for you to leave your name and contact details.)
- Request an accident report form by Fax,
on 01744 744404 (St Helens)
- Complete our online claim form
- Call into one of our offices, as no appointment is needed,
click here for directions.
- Or send the following information by email to "vwfclaim@hattons.oy2.biz":*
- Full Name
- Full Address, including postcode
- Daytime Telephone Number
- Mobile Telephone Number
- Brief Employment History
- Brief Health Problem Details
- How you found our website
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