The effect of hand-arm vibration syndrome on quality of life

House, Ron; Wills, Michael; Liss, Gary M.; Switzer-McIntyre, Sharon; Lander, Lina; Jiang, Depeng

doi:10.1093/occmed/kqt167

Cited by 29 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…Workers with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) often experience upper extremity pain [1], which is an important predictor of their upper extremity disability [2], work ability [3] and quality of life [4]. Pain in the upper extremities proximal to the hand in HAVS is thought to be due mainly to musculoskeletal disorders associated with the use of vibratory tools, arising either from the transmitted vibration or ergonomic factors [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors affecting finger and hand pain in workers with HAVS

House

Krajnak

Jiang

2016

OCCMED

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Background Pain and its management are important aspects of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Aims To determine the factors associated with finger and hand pain in workers with HAVS and, specifically, to assess the impact of several neurological variables as well as the vascular component of HAVS, grip strength and age. Methods We assessed men with HAVS at a hospital occupational medicine clinic over 2 years. Subjects scored finger and hand pain separately using the Borg Scale (0–10). The possible predictors we evaluated included the Stockholm Neurological Scale (SNS) and Stockholm Vascular Scale (SVS) stages, current perception threshold (CPT), carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), ulnar neuropathy, grip strength and age. We carried out nerve conduction testing to confirm the presence of CTS and ulnar neuropathy and measured CPT in the fingers at 2000 Hz, 250 Hz and 5 Hz corresponding to A-beta (large myelinated), A-delta (small myelinated) and C (unmyelinated) fibres, respectively. We calculated Spearman rank correlations to examine the relation between finger and hand pain and possible predictor variables. Results Among the 134 subjects, the median (25th–75th percentile) pain scores were 6 (4–8) for the fingers and 5 (1–7) for the hands. We found statistically significant correlations with finger pain for the SVS stage (r = 0.239; P < 0.01) and CTS (r = 0.184; P < 0.05). The only statistically significant correlation identified for hand pain was a negative correlation with grip strength (r = −0.185; P < 0.05). Conclusions Management of finger and hand pain in HAVS should focus on the correlates we have identified.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors affecting finger and hand pain in workers with HAVS

House

Krajnak

Jiang

2016

OCCMED

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“…Nesse caso, a produção do operador por turno de trabalho foi reduzida, porém os riscos de dano à saúde foram minimizados. Além do efeito sobre a saúde, essa síndrome causa grande prejuízo para a qualidade de vida dos portadores (HOUSE et al, 2014). O uso de motosserras com dispositivos antivibratórios de alta performance contribui para minimizar o efeito desse fator na saúde do trabalhador e, assim, obter ganhos de produtividade.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Metas De Produção Para Trabalhadores De Corte Florestal

et al. 2015

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RESUMO -A quantidade de produção por pessoa por turno de trabalho pode ser questionada pelo empregado, pelo empregador e pelos sindicatos, instituições governamentais e certificadoras. No setor florestal, o processo de determinar metas de produção, em geral, não leva em conta os fatores ergonômicos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar metas de produção para atividade de corte florestal com motosserra (abate e traçamento de árvores), levando em consideração os fatores ergonômicos relacionados à atividade, como forma de prevenir danos à saúde dos trabalhadores. Os fatores ergonômicos foram avaliados utilizando a metodologia de análise ergonômica validada no meio científico. A organização do trabalho foi avaliada segundo a metodologia de análise de sistemas e estudos de tempos. Os resultados indicaram que o nível de vibração total (eixos X, Y e Z), o ambiente térmico expresso pelo Índice de Bulbo Úmido-Termômetro de Globo (IBUTG), o nível de ruído e a carga cardiovascular foram superiores aos limites recomendados para jornada de 8 h de trabalho. Os movimentos realizados pelos trabalhadores não foram enquadrados como repetitivos. As forças de compressão no disco L 5 -S 1 da coluna vertebral foram próximas ou superiores ao limite. Com exceção do fator repetitividade, todos os fatores exigiram pausas de recuperação, sendo o nível de vibração da máquina o fator com maior exigência de tempo de pausas. A necessidade de aumentar o tempo de pausa ergonômica e diminuir o tempo de trabalho efetivo fez que a meta de produção fosse reduzida em 18%, para evitar danos à saúde do trabalhador.Palavras-chave: Colheita Florestal; Ergonomia; Produtividade. (X, Y, and Z-axis), the thermal environment expressed by the WBGT index (Wet Bulb GlobeThermometer), the noise level, the cardiovascular load exceeded the recommended limits for an eight hour work shift. The movements performed by workers were not classified as repetitive. The forces resulted in compression at L 5 -S 1 disc of the spine, near or above the limit. With the exception of repeatability factor, all other factors required fatigue recovery breaks, and the machine vibration level the factor thatrequires more breaks. There was need to increase the ergonomic resting time and consequently to decrease the effective work time, which made the production target reduce 18%, to avoid damage to the workers' health. PRODUCTION TARGETS FOR WORKERS IN FOREST HARVESTING ABSTRACT -The employee, the employer and labor unions, government institutions and certifiers can question the amount of output per person per workday. In the forestry sector the process of determining production targets, in general, does not take into account the ergonomic factors. The objective of this study was to determine production targets for timber cutting activity with chainsaw (tree felling and bucking) taking into account ergonomic factors related to the activity, as a way to prevent damage to health of workers. The ergonomic factors were assessed using a validated methodology for ergonomic analysis in sci...

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“…The majority of carpenters with neurosensory affection (54%), had these symptoms daily, and almost one fth (18%) reported discomfort to such an extent that it in uenced their daily life activities: work 13%, leisure time 15% (not in table). (40) Pain in ngers/hands when cold 14 (23) Impaired perception of warmth 7 (12) Impaired perception of touch 5 (8) Impaired perception of cold 4 7Impaired dexterity -tendency to drop things 4 7Impaired dexterity -di culty buttoning clothes 4 7Among the 18 carpenters that had white ngers, 2% reported having symptoms on a daily basis, 3% that these symptoms affected their work and 1% reported affection on leisure activities, and.…”

Section: Neural and Vascular Manifestationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adverse Health Manifestations in the Hands of Vibration Exposed Carpenters - A Cross Sectional Study

Tekavec¹,

Löfqvist

Larsson

et al. 2020

Preprint

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BackgroundDespite EU regulatory standards, many workers suffer injury as a result of working with hand-held vibrating tools. Our aim of this study was to investigate whether carpenters, a highly exposed group, suffer more injuries to their hands than painters, a group assumed to be less exposed to vibration. Methods193 carpenters and 72 painters, all men, answered a questionnaire and underwent a clinical examination to identify manifestations of neural and vascular origin in hands. Neurosensory affection was defined as having at least one symptom in the fingers/hands (impaired perception of touch, warmth, or cold, impaired dexterity, increased sensation of cold, numbness or tingling, or pain in the fingers/hands when cold) and at least one clinical finding (impaired perception of touch, warmth, cold, vibration, or two-point discrimination). Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). ResultsNeurosensory affection was fulfilled for 31% of the carpenters and 17% of the painters, age-adjusted OR 3.3 (CI 1.6–7.0). Among carpenters with neurosensory affection 18% reported interference with daily life activities, the most common symptoms being increased sensation of cold, numbness and pain in the fingers/hands when cold, the most common clinical findings were impaired perception of touch and vibration. Neurosensory affection was found in 12 % of young carpenters (≤ 30 years old). No difference was found in the prevalence of white fingers between carpenters and painters. ConclusionsCarpenters showed more symptoms and clinical findings of neurosensory affection than painters, probably due to vibration exposure. Also young carpenters showed signs of neurosensory affection, which indicates that workers at today´s working conditions are not protected against injury. This underlines the importance of reducing exposure to vibration, and conducting regular medical check-ups to detect early signs of neural and vascular manifestations indicating hand-arm vibration injuries. Special attention should be given to symptoms of increased sensation of cold, pain in the fingers when cold, and numbness, as these were the most common initiating ones, and should be addressed as early as possible in the preventive sentinel process. It is also important to test clinically for small- and large-fibre neuropathy, as the individual may be unaware of any pathology.

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The effect of hand-arm vibration syndrome on quality of life

Abstract: Both the physical and the mental QOL in workers with HAVS were below Canadian population normal values and subjects' upper extremity pain score had the greatest effect on their QOL.

Cited by 29 publications

References 9 publications

Factors affecting finger and hand pain in workers with HAVS

Factors affecting finger and hand pain in workers with HAVS

Metas De Produção Para Trabalhadores De Corte Florestal

Adverse Health Manifestations in the Hands of Vibration Exposed Carpenters - A Cross Sectional Study

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