ABSTRACT
Products should eliminate, isolate, or reduce exposure to vibration that could cause vibration-related injuries, such as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Hand-held tools that vibrate intensely can eventually injure arms, hands, or fingers. The resulting condition, called HAVS, can involve neurological, vascular, or musculoskeletal damage. Symptoms include tingling and numbness, pain, reduced strength and range of motion, and a whitening of the fingertips due to lack of blood circulation. In addition to designing vibration-reducing features, proper technique can also play a role when making interactions with vibrating products safer and more comfortable. For example, gripping tools less firmly and letting them “do the work,” rather than “forcing them,” can lessen the vibration transmitted to the user. A more effective exposure avoidance technique would be to mount a device on an isolated stand whereby users no longer need to hold the vibrating device at all.
