A key element towards helping to prevent HAVS is trying to keep good blood circulation by keeping warm and dry, massaging and moving fingers during breaks and not smoking because smoking has been proven to deteriorate circulation. How do you prevent hand-arm vibration syndrome from worsening? Prevention Use sound ergonomic equipment that reduces vibration transference to the hands. Half-finger gloves do not meet the ISO/ANSI standard. As soon as it is realised that one has suffered from this disease due to holding vibrating instrument for a long time, one must restore circulation to whitened fingers immediately by swinging the arms or by doing any other exercises that increase circulation in affected body parts. If the HAVS condition is very severe it has been known for the symptoms to be irreversible in some cases so it is important to acknowledge the symptoms early so that HAVS does not worsen. The rest of this post is devoted to exploring the prevention methods and treatments currently available. Workers should use ISO/ANSI certified anti-vibration gloves 3. An apparently high frequency of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) among shipyard workers undergoing health surveillance because of exposure to hand-transmitted vibration (HTV) prompted concerns that current regulatory limits on exposure might not protect adequately against the disorder. This may include using low-vibration tools, wearing vibration-reducing gloves, and modifying work schedules to reduce the exposure duration. The use of gloves can be particularly effective in staving off hand arm vibration conditions such as vibration white finger. 2. “Prevention is the key,” McDowell said. Aside from using anti or low vibration tools, Wasserman and colleagues had highlighted safe practices for HAVS prevention: Keep the hand warm Refrain from smoking Grip the tool lightly as possible while in use in order not to increase the vibration coupling. The Medical Effects of Hand Arm Vibration/ Treatment It is well known and documented since 1918 that daily occupational exposure from many, but Hold equipment loosely. Workers with mild disease and those who choose to continue working with handheld power tools should re­duce exposure to hand-arm vibration as much as possible. Prevention and Treatment. Here are 8 top tips for keeping warm to help prevent HAVS. A hallmark disorder of HAVS is vibration white finger, or Raynaud’s syndrome – an irreversible, potentially disabling condition that arises when repeated vibration exposure causes the blood vessels in the affected fingers to collapse. Reduce vibration exposure at the worker • Provide workers with ISO/ASNI Certified Anti-Vibration Gloves: Only gloves labelled “meet ANSI S2.73/-ISO 10819” are true anti-vibration gloves. One of the key ways of preventing hand arm vibration syndrome then is to keep hands warm for workers who are exposed to vibration, and especially for those who may be more vulnerable to complications from poor circulation such as diabetics and those with existing Reynaud's Disease. Work in short durations with frequent breaks. Vibration Exposure In the U.S. alone about 2.5 million workers are exposed daily to Hand-Arm Vibration (HAV) from the power tools they use on-their-jobs. Use vibration-absorbing gloves or pads. Because hand-arm vibration syndrome is so serious, it’s important to get a diagnosis and start making plans to combat the spread of symptoms as soon as possible.