Workplace Report June 2009

Health & safety - HSE Monitor

Vibration research

New research published by the HSE argues for a range of new tests for disorders arising out of vibration at work.

Researchers argued that health surveillance for those exposed to hand-arm vibration, and the diagnosis of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is heavily dependent upon self-reporting the misidentification of symptoms, fears regarding an individual’s job, or ongoing legal action. It found that the musculoskeletal component of HAVS is the most poorly defined and studied area of this disease and warranted further investigation.

A review of the literature published since 2004 with potential relevance in the diagnosis of HAVS (RR711) www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr711.pdf