If you’ve worked in a manual role using vibrating tools, you may be able to make an injury claim. Prolonged use of vibrating tools can lead to debilitating and painful symptoms and if this is the case, you could make a claim.
Excessive exposure can affect the nerves, blood vessels, muscles and joints of the hand, wrist and arm causing Hand – Arm Vibration Syndrome.
There are 2 main types of Hand – Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) injuries in respect of which you can claim compensation. They are:
- Vibration White Finger (blanching, or whitening of your fingers)
- Sensorineural symptoms (numbness and tingling)
The law says that every employer has a duty of care to protect employees from suffering harm in the workplace. If your employer has failed to do that by failing to assess the risks of vibration properly and limit the time that you have spent using vibrating equipment or by failing to monitor your hands when requiring you do work with vibrating equipment, they may have failed in their duty of care towards you.
Those affected can experience difficulty carrying out daily living tasks due to numbness and tingling making it difficult to grip properly or undertake dextrous tasks. Working outdoors in cold conditions, which is common in many industries including utilities, road work and construction work also increases the likelihood of a painful response. This damage to the hands can be irreversible and this can have an impact on those suffering with it keeping their job as well as on their family and social life.
You can be exposed to a Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) injuries in many working environments and the symptoms may include:
- Numbness and tingling in the fingers, as well as a reduced sense of touch which are caused by nerve damage in the hand. Small objects can be difficult to feel and work with as a result of this damage.
- Recurring attacks in which blood circulation is disrupted in the fingers and areas of the fingers become white (otherwise known as blanched). The blanching will usually extend right the way around the finger up to a defined point, such as a knuckle. During these attacks, the fingers become numb. The fingers are usually throbbing, red, and painful when blood circulation returns to normal, whether on its own or after rewarming.
- Blood circulation may be permanently inhibited in the advanced stages of the disease which can cause the fingers to become infected and tissue to become necrotic.
At Liverpool Legal, we understand the difficulties clients face during this time. Our compassionate Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome solicitors will discuss your claim with you to fully understand your concerns and needs. We will work with you to bring your claim to a conclusion as soon as possible on a “ No Win, No Fee” basis.
Sometimes a company you have worked for will no longer exist, but a claim can still be brought in those circumstances as your Hand- Arm Vibration solicitor can usually apply to make the company exist again for the purposes of bringing your claim once insurance for the company has been located.
These can be found in a variety of industries, for example:
- Construction and demolition workers.
- Road and railway construction and maintenance.
- Maintenance of grounds, parks, water courses, road, and rail sides.
- Forestry.
- Concrete products manufacturing.
- Quarries and mines.
- Manufacturing and repairing vehicles.
- Utility services (water, gas, electricity, telecommunications).
- Shipbuilding and ship repairing.
- Fabrication and metalwork.
It is important you instruct a specialist solicitor to assist you. At Liverpool Legal our friendly, expert Hand- Arm Vibration specialist solicitor would be happy to discuss your claim on a “No Win, No Fee” basis. Click here to email our Hand – Arm Vibration specialist or call us on 0151 702 5400.