What is it?
Vibration white finger (or VWF) is the most common symptom of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). VWF is also known as 'dead hand' or 'dead finger' and could affect those of you who regularly use high-vibration equipment. It can damage blood vessels, reducing blood supply, and also nerves in the fingers, causing a permanent loss of feeling. The bones and muscles may also become damaged. You may lose flexibility and strength of grip. You may find it more difficult to work with hand-held tools, and to enjoy hobbies such as swimming, gardening or angling where your fingers can get cold. Even washing the car could become painful.

The Condition
The condition has been known about for some years but most employers will not be held responsible for exposure to vibration before 1971. In recent British Coal cases for miners the "date of knowledge" i.e. the guilty date for employers is 1 January 1975.

The Signs
The symptoms of VWF are usually set off by cold. Early on they are mild. The first sign is often an occasional attack when the fingertips become white. If you continue to work with vibrating tools, the affected area can get larger. During an attack there may also be numbness, or 'pins and needles', and an attack may end with the whiteness changing to a deep red flush, which is often very painful.

Prevention
The best way to avoid suffering VWF is to prevent the exposure to the vibration itself. This can be done by either reducing the exposure, or by regular medical reviews to ensure that those likely to be exposed are spotted quickly and that the exposure ceases. Reducing exposure can be achieved by modifying the tool or the process, introducing work rotation or minimising the hand-grip on the tool. The SVR Abshock system reduces the exposure to vibration substantially.