If your workforce regularly uses power tools, vibration exposure can pose serious health risks. Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is a progressive condition caused by repeated use of vibrating machinery, affecting nerves, muscles, and blood vessels in the hands and arms.
At Pathways Occupational Health, we provide expert, HSE-aligned HAVS assessments to help fuel healthy working populations and ensure legal compliance.
What Is HAVS?
HAVS develops through prolonged use of vibrating tools, such as hammer drills, grinders, or rotary equipment, resulting in painful joints, tremors, reduced muscle strength, tingling, and numbness in the hands and fingers.
Over time, vascular damage can become irreversible, making early detection essential to prevent long-term disability.
Why HAVS Assessments Matter
Employers have a legal duty to identify and mitigate vibration risks. Failure to conduct HAVS assessments can expose workers to chronic conditions and expose businesses to regulatory action.
Early diagnosis not only helps preserve employee health but also protects productivity and morale.
HAVS Symptom Stages
Our assessments follow the internationally recognised staging system:
- Stage 0: No symptoms
- Stage 1: Mild, intermittent tingling or numbness at fingertip levels
- Stage 2: Persistent numbness affecting middle segments of fingers, and reduced sensory response
- Stage 3: Severe numbness across most fingers, diminished dexterity, and loss of tactile discrimination
Pathways ensure every client’s condition is precisely evaluated and monitored with expert care.
Who Needs a HAVS Assessment?
We recommend HAVS screening for any employee regularly using vibrating tools or machinery:
- Daily users of hand-held grinders, sanders, hammer drills, and similar equipment
- Workers exposed to vibratory forces for more than one hour per day
- Personnel in construction, foundries, shipyards, and utilities
- Individuals reporting symptoms like tingling or numbness during or after tool use
- Employees whose hands vibrate when in contact with machinery surfaces
What Happens During a HAVS Assessment?
Our qualified occupational health physicians and nurses conduct comprehensive evaluations, including:
- Medical and workplace history interviews
- Tests for grip strength and manual dexterity
- Sensory assessments for vibration and temperature perception
- Hand arterial testing and cardiovascular measures
- Checks to rule out conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome
A thorough medical report follows, summarising findings, assessment stage, and recommendations for risk reduction and ongoing surveillance.
Certification & Follow-Up
We issue HAVS certificates valid for up to 12 months, tailored to the assessed severity. If a worker is assessed at Stage 3 or higher, our healthcare team advises on workplace adjustments and potential medical removal. Continuous monitoring prevents condition progression and supports return-to-work planning.
Why Choose Pathways Occupational Health?
Founded in 2011 and led by industry experts with extensive experience in occupational environments like British Steel, Pathways Occupational Health is a trusted provider of HAVS assessments across the UK.
Our team is accredited by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine and equipped to support all your health surveillance needs.
We serve a range of industries and offer fast, accurate, and compliant testing programmes backed by personalised reporting, digital record keeping, and expert follow-up advice.
Book Your HAVS Assessment Today
Safeguard your team and your business from vibration-related illness.
Contact Pathways Occupational Health to schedule HAVS assessments or to discuss expanding your workplace health surveillance programme.