Social Sustainability
Vibration White Finger (VWF)
Irreversible damage to fingers' blood vessels and nerves from prolonged use of vibrating tools — a preventable occupational disease.
Definition
Vibration white finger — clinically, the vascular component of hand-arm vibration syndrome — is an occupational disorder caused by prolonged exposure to hand-transmitted vibration from power tools (chainsaws, grinders, breakers). Repeated exposure damages small blood vessels and nerves, producing attacks of blanching (white fingers), numbness and loss of grip and dexterity; damage is progressive and irreversible. It is compensated as an industrial disease in many jurisdictions and controlled through exposure limits (EU Vibration Directive action and limit values for daily exposure).
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