Hand arm vibration - Statistics

Summary

  • The number of new cases of Vibration White Finger (VWF) assessed for Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit was 510 in 2006/07 down from 645 in 2005/06. This is the lowest number of new cases in the last ten years. (Table IIDB02[61])
  • The Medical Research Council (MRC) (PDF) [62] survey in 1997-98 gave a prevalence estimate of 288 000 sufferers from vibration white finger (VWF) in Great Britain (255 000 males and 33 000 females respectively).
  • Extraction, energy and water supply was the industry with by far the highest rate of cases of Vibration White Finger. (Table IIDB10[63])
  • The number of new cases of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) assessed for disablement benefit has decreased from 520 (55 females) cases in 2005/06 to 435 (45 females) in 2006/07. (Table IIDB02[64]).

Vibration White Finger

Vibration white finger is a disorder of the blood supply to the fingers and hand which can be caused by regular use of vibrating hand-held tools. Estimates of its prevalence, including longstanding as well as new cases, from a specific survey commissioned by HSE and carried out by the Medical Research Council (MRC) in 1997/98 [4.07MB] (PDF) [65]. This survey was based on questionnaires administered to representative samples of the population, but there were differences in methodology. When comparing the results, it should be borne in mind that the symptoms of finger blanching that are characteristic of VWF can also occur in the general population independently of vibration exposure.

Vibration White Finger (VWF) is the most commonly prescribed disease under the Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit (IIDB[66]) scheme for the last ten years, this is shown in Table IIDB02[67]. However the number of new cases of VWF has fallen significantly over that period as shown by Figure 1 below.

Sufferers from VWF may have a permanent loss of sensation in their fingers, causing difficulty in picking up and manipulating small objects. However, while VWF and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (see below) qualify for compensation under the IIDB, the loss of sensation does not.

Table IIDB10[68] shows the average rate of new assessments of Vibration White Finger in different industries. The industry group with by far the highest average rate of new assessments in the years 2004 to 2006 was Extraction, Energy and Water Supply with 21.9 new assessments per 100 000 employees. Other industry groups with high rates of new assessed cases are Manufacturing (7.6 cases per 100 000 employees), Construction (7.3), these groups include industries where there is substantial use of vibrating tools.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

Other disorders may also be caused by vibration. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), is thought to arise in part from entrapment or compression of nerves in the wrist which could stem from vibration. CTS caused by hand-held vibrating tools was made a prescribed disease from April 1993. The number of new cases of CTS recognised by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rose steadily from 1993 until 2002/03 when the number peaked at 1030. The last 3 years have seen a steady fall in the number of new cases. The 435 cases prescribed this year is the lowest since 1999/00.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome may have other occupational causes, such as repetitive twisting or gripping movements of the hand, but such cases do not qualify for compensation by DWP.

Figure 1: New cases of Prescribed Vibration White Finger (VWF) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) in Great Britain 1995-2007

Number of cases of VWF and CTS by year 2006-2015

Link URLs in this page

  1. Vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/index.htm
  2. Hand arm vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/index.htm
  3. About this websitehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/about.htm
  4. Key messageshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/keymessages.htm
  5. Worried about your handshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/yourhands.htm
  6. Overview - Advice for employershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/index.htm
  7. Employers responsibilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/responsibilities.htm
  8. Assess riskhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/assessrisks.htm
  9. Overview - How to protect workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/protect.htm
  10. Control riskhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/controlrisks.htm
  11. Information and traininghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/information.htm
  12. Health surveillancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/healthsurveillance.htm
  13. Overview - Good practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/index.htm
  14. Overview - Foundrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/index.htm
  15. Eliminate fettling by improving casting qualityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/fettlingelimination.htm
  16. Machining as a substitute for fettlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/machining.htm
  17. Automatic fettlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/automaticfettling.htm
  18. Jig-mounting of grindershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/jigmounting.htm
  19. Semi-automatic cut off machinehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/cutoffmachine.htm
  20. Isolated casting cut offhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/isolatedcasting.htm
  21. Installation of hydraulic cropping machinehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/hydrauliccropping.htm
  22. Shell knockout 1https://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/castingshell.htm
  23. Shell knockout 2https://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/contactcastingshell.htm
  24. Hydraulic pushouthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/furnaceliningremoval.htm
  25. Ladle slag chippinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/foundries/chippingslag.htm
  26. Overview - Constructionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/index.htm
  27. Preparing a code of practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/tunnelling.htm
  28. Construction Industry Council guidancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/cicguidance.htm
  29. Mounted breakerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/mountedroadbreaker.htm
  30. Directional drillinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/directionaldrilling.htm
  31. Crushing concretehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/crushingconcrete.htm
  32. Bursting concretehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/burstingconcrete.htm
  33. Diamond wire cuttinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/diamondwire.htm
  34. Water jettinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/waterjetting.htm
  35. Codes of Practice from the Water Jetting Associationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/codeofpractice.htm
  36. Grit blastinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/gritblasting.htm
  37. Paint-on retarderhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/paintonmaterial.htm
  38. Special formworkhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/construction/specialformwork.htm
  39. Overview - Steel fabricationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/index.htm
  40. Machininghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/cncmachining.htm
  41. Laser cuttinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/lasercutter.htm
  42. Plasma cuttinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/plasmacutting.htm
  43. Noise reduction in the ship repair industry – research report 1992https://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/noisereduction.htm
  44. Abrasive blastershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/campaign/fabrication/abrasiveblasters.htm
  45. Overview - Regulationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/regulations.htm
  46. Inspector briefinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/inspectorbriefing.htm
  47. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/information.htm
  48. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/publications.htm
  49. Researchhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/research.htm
  50. Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/statistics.htm
  51. Useful linkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/links.htm
  52. Vibration calculatorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/calculator-guide.htm
  53. Overview - Case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/casestudies/index.htm
  54. (HAVS) in two motor companieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/casestudies/enforceex.htm
  55. Monitoring exposure to Hand-Arm Vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/casestudies/mhav-carlwest.htm
  56. Overview - Supply project eventshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/project-events.htm
  57. Controlling vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/controlling-vibration.htm
  58. Q & A on hand toolshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/hand-tools-qa.htm
  59. Q & A on using a vibration consultanthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/qa-consultant.htm
  60. Q & A on health surveillancehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/qa-surveillance.htm
  61. Table IIDB02https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/index.htm
  62. Medical Research Council (MRC)https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20230103120103/https://www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr_pdf/1999/crr99232.pdf
  63. Table IIDB10https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/index.htm
  64. Table IIDB02https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/index.htm
  65. Medical Research Council (MRC) in 1997/98 [4.07MB]https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20230103120103/https://www.hse.gov.uk/research/crr_pdf/1999/crr99232.pdf
  66. IIDBhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/sources.htm
  67. Table IIDB02https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/index.htm
  68. Table IIDB10https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/tables/index.htm
  69. Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/publications.htm
  70. Vibration calculatorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/calculator-guide.htm
  71. Advice for employershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/advicetoemployers/index.htm
  72. Regulationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/VIBRATION/hav/regulations.htm
  73. Constructionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm
  74. MSD - Back painhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/index.htm
  75. Noisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/index.htm
  76. Quarrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/quarries/index.htm
  77. Agriculturehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm

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2024-10-30