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Vibration white finger, also known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), is a condition that can affect people who use vibrating tools or machinery on a regular basis. The condition is caused by the damage to blood vessels and nerves in the fingers, which can lead to numbness, tingling, and pain. In severe cases, vibration white finger can lead to permanent disability. One of the qualified solicitors in the MMW Claims team will be able to advise you on whether you may be able to claim for this condition.
If you have developed vibration white finger as a result of your work, you may be entitled to compensation. To make a claim, you will need to prove that your employer was negligent in failing to provide you with adequate protection from vibration. This may include providing you with vibrating tools that met safety standards, or ensuring that you took regular breaks from using vibrating tools.
If you are considering making a vibration white finger claim, it is important to speak to one of the specialist solicitors at MMW Claims as soon as possible. Our expert solicitors will be able to advise you on your legal rights and options, and help you to prepare your claim. You can still claim against companies who are no longer trading. MMW claims will be able to ascertain if you have a claim by tracing insurance history for old companies.
The symptoms of vibration white finger can vary from person to person, but they typically include:
Numbness and tingling in the fingers
White fingers or ‘blanching’
Pain in the fingers
Coldness in the fingers
Reduced grip strength
Stiffness in the fingers
Vibration white finger is caused by the damage to blood vessels and nerves in the fingers. This damage can be caused by exposure to vibration, particularly high-frequency vibration. The vibration can damage the blood vessels and nerves, which can lead to the symptoms of vibration white finger.
The risk factors for vibration white finger include:
The type of work you do
The amount of time you spend using vibrating tools or machinery
The intensity of the vibration
Your age
Your smoking habits
There are a number of things you can do to help prevent vibration white finger, including:
Using vibrating tools or machinery for short periods of time
Taking regular breaks from using vibrating tools or machinery
Using tools or machinery that meet safety standards
Wearing gloves that protect your hands from vibration
If you have developed vibration white finger as a result of your work, you may be entitled to compensation. To make a claim, you will need to prove that your employer was negligent in failing to provide you with adequate protection from vibration. This may include providing you with vibrating tools that met safety standards, or ensuring that you took regular breaks from using vibrating tools.
Vibration white finger is a serious condition that can have a significant impact on your life. If you have developed vibration white finger as a result of your work, you may be entitled to compensation. It is important to speak to one of the specialist solicitors at MMW Claims as soon as possible to discuss your potential claim.
Compensation is guided by the Judicial Studies Board for Northern Ireland's Guidelines for the Assessment of General Damages in Personal Injury Cases in Northern Ireland (Sixth edition). The guidelines can be accessed from the Judiciary NI site here.
The amount you can expect to receive for VWF depends entirely on the severity and extent of the condition, which is typically as follow:
This typically involves blanching (whitening) of one or more fingertips, which may be accompanied by tingling and numbness. For this level of injury, a claim can lead to an award of up to £15,000.
When one has blanching of one or more fingers, accompanied by numbness. Symptoms usually occur only in winter and cause slight interference with home and social activities. Compensation for moderate VWF falls within the band of £15,000 to £25,000.
When one has extensive blanching of most fingers. Episodes occur in both summer and winter, with such severity that the individual must change their occupation to avoid further exposure to vibration.Claims in the severe category attract an award banded between £25,000 to £42,500.
