Toolbox talk: hand-arm vibration (HAVS)

This is a ready-to-give toolbox talk on hand-arm vibration. Keep it to about five to ten minutes, run it before the work starts, and make it about the vibrating tools the crew are using today. Use it as a script, adjust it to the job, and take questions at the end.

Why this matters

Hand-arm vibration syndrome, or HAVS, is one of those injuries that creeps up on you over years and then never leaves. Using breakers, grinders, drills and other vibrating tools for too long damages the blood vessels, nerves and joints in the hands. It starts as tingling and fingers going white in the cold, and it ends as a permanent loss of feeling and grip, so you struggle to do up a button or pick up a screw. There is no cure. The point of this talk is to keep the crew's hands working for the rest of their lives.

The main risks on the job

• Vibrating tools, breakers, grinders, drills, sanders, needle guns and compactors.
• Long trigger time, using the tool for too long in one go or across the day.
• Cold and wet conditions, which make the damage worse.
• Gripping too tight and forcing the tool instead of letting it work.
• Blunt or badly maintained tools and discs, which vibrate more and take longer.

What you must do

• Use low-vibration tools kept sharp and well maintained, and let the tool do the work rather than forcing it.
• Limit the trigger time. Do not use a vibrating tool for longer than needed, rotate the job around the crew, and take breaks.
• Keep hands warm and dry, because cold makes HAVS worse. Warm up before starting and use gloves that suit the job.
• Hold the tool loosely. A tight grip drives more vibration into the hands.
• Know the limits and do not exceed the exposure levels set for the tools you are using.
• Report early symptoms and take part in any health surveillance, because caught early the damage can be stopped from getting worse.

Questions to discuss with the crew

• What vibrating tools are we using today, and for how long?
• Can the trigger time be shared out or reduced, and are the tools well maintained?
• Is it cold today, and can we keep hands warm and take breaks?
• Has anyone noticed tingling, numbness or white fingers they should report?

Record the talk

Write down the date, the topic, who gave the talk and who attended, and keep it on file. The record shows the briefing happened, and it is often asked for by the principal contractor or in an investigation after an incident.

Related: Toolbox talk: noise, Toolbox talk: dust and COSHH, and the toolbox talks index.