Vibration White Finger in the Workplace

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Abstract
Vibration white finger (VWF) was considered for prescription by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) between 1950 and 1954, and again between 1967 and 1975. In both reports, one of the main reasons for not recommending prescription was the triviality of the complaint. Since the 1975 report, new evidence concerning the numbers involved and the seriousness of individual cases has been collected, resulting in the publication of the 1981 report recommending prescription for industrial injuries. The purpose of this paper is to advise medical officers: ( a ) to monitor populations exposed to vibration; ( b ) on the assessment of VWF cases; ( c ) on the VWF screening tests used for assessing VWF outwith the subjective history and ( d ) the legal aspects of VWF. Reference is made to the proposed Draft Recommendations (BSI and ISO) governing the permitted vibration levels for hand-held tools and the urgent need, considering the present levels, to re-design tools (especially pneumatic percussive tools) to meet the suggested limits. Until such time as all vibratory tools conform to the recommended vibration limits, managements must take steps to reduce the energy input to the hands and arms in workers whose job involves vibratory tools such as chain-saws, pneumatic hammers and pneumatic drills. The VWF medical opinions expressed in the Judgments arising from two recent lawsuits are at variance with the published research data. Therefore works medical officers should take immediate steps to minimize the risk of VWF in any vibrationexposed work force.

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