HAVS Testing is a vital occupational health service for businesses whose employees use vibrating tools or machinery.
Regular HAVS assessments help detect early signs of nerve, muscle, and circulation damage caused by long-term vibration exposure—protecting your workforce, ensuring HSE compliance, and reducing the risk of costly long-term health issues.
By identifying problems before they escalate, you can keep staff safe, maintain productivity, and demonstrate a strong duty of care.
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome surveillance is a proactive health monitoring service designed to detect early signs of vibration-related injury. Workers who use vibrating tools or machines are assessed regularly to prevent long-term damage to nerves, circulation or muscles in the hands and arms.
Employees using jackhammers, grinders, drills, chainsaws or other vibrating equipment
Staff in industries such as construction, manufacturing, utilities, forestry, and workshops
Individuals who report symptoms like tingling, numbness or reduced grip strength
Detailed work-history & tool exposure assessment
Questionnaire on symptoms and functional difficulties
Grip strength & dexterity tests
Sensory tests for vibration perception
Circulation tests (where applicable)
Vibration measurement or nerve conduction when exposure or symptoms require it
Regular testing intervals depend on exposure risk and regulatory requirements. Baseline testing is followed by periodic surveillance, often annually or more frequently when exposure is high or symptoms are present. For early signs, follow-up and intervention is recommended.
We provide HAVS testing onsite, via Mobile Medical Units, or in clinic settings. Our scheduling is flexible, working around shift patterns to reduce disruption.
After each assessment:
Fitness or risk outcome summary
Advice on exposure reduction and tool safety
Management summary highlighting trends and areas needing control
Recommendations for reassessment or specialist referral
Need to protect your workforce from vibration-related harm? Contact us with your tool types, exposure durations and staff numbers. We’ll propose a programme and provide a tailored quote.
HAVS is a medical condition caused by prolonged exposure to vibrating tools or machinery. It affects blood vessels, nerves, and muscles of the hands and arms, causing numbness, tingling, loss of grip strength, and other symptoms.
Employees who often use hand-held vibrating power tools, machinery, or equipment—such as construction workers, mechanics, forestry and manufacturing workers—are at risk. Exposure levels, frequency and tool condition play a part.
Testing typically involves a detailed exposure history, questionnaire, grip strength assessment, sensory tests, circulation evaluation, and sometimes vibration measurement or nerve conduction studies where required.
Frequency depends on exposure risk, regulations and previous test results. Many employers conduct baseline tests, then annual or more frequent rounds for high exposure or earlier signs of HAVS.
If early signs are found, Clarity OH provides guidance on reducing exposure, implementing controls, possibly referrals for specialist medical review, and recommendations for changes such as tool maintenance or rotation.
Health data is handled under strict clinical governance and data protection laws. Only required outcome summaries are shared with management; individual medical details remain confidential.
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