gardener hazards

Specific VWF risks - vibration white fingerGardening has not been exempt from the many technological advances that have drastically altered so many professions over the past fifty years.A significant number of the job's aspects have now been industrialised. Part of this industrialisation has involved the introduction of vibrating tools to perform once laborious manual tasks.http://www.youclaim.co.uk/VWF/Vibration-white-finger-symptoms.htmStandard push mowers, ride-on mowers and strimmers are just a few of the vibrating tools the typical 21st century gardener will use.The use of such tools during cold autumn and winter months exacerbates the VWF risk. Both cold and wet conditions have been linked with causing particularly acute VWF symptoms, so coupling such conditions with the use of hazardous vibrating machinery presents a clear and escalated risk to affected gardeners.It is often corporate or council gardeners, rather than small-scale home garden contractors, who are at the highest risk of developing Vibration White Finger.Typically, this is because council and corporate gardening work exists on a much larger scale. Such jobs demand more frequent and heavier use of vibrating tools than those in private homes.

I think the thing is with some of the council workers, they'll have someone doing the verges with a strimmer, he'll be on that same job every day of the week, and the engine is running nonstop........ apart from extended tea/lunch/smoking/coffee breaks etc lol..... for the whole day so in those cases, I can see some extra risk but generally, having worked for the council myself for many years, there really shouldn't be any more risk.
My son was working for a council subcontractor, Connaughts, during the summer and that was the job he was on......... he wouldn't use the ear defenders preferring to have his music in his ears, now he reckons his hearing isn't as good as it used to be!!...... I did try and warn him but they know best!!

Pro Gard said:

" It is often corporate or council gardeners, rather than small-scale home garden contractors, who are at the highest risk of developing Vibration White Finger."

Total utter crap, the risk is equal.

The best way to avoid VWF is to select machines with low vibration levels, replace vibration mounts regularly, keep the hand warm and perhaps wear anti vibe gloves. The HSE would say that the solution is to adhere to hourly use guidelines but for a one man band this is impossible.

Replies

Lawncare-4u.co.uk September 27, 2010 at 12:10am

http://www.youclaim.co.uk/VWF/raynauds-disease-and-staying-warm-che...
Geoff Norfolk September 27, 2010 at 9:35am

I think the thing is with some of the council workers, they'll have someone doing the verges with a strimmer, he'll be on that same job every day of the week, and the engine is running nonstop........ apart from extended tea/lunch/smoking/coffee breaks etc lol..... for the whole day so in those cases, I can see some extra risk but generally, having worked for the council myself for many years, there really shouldn't be any more risk.
My son was working for a council subcontractor, Connaughts, during the summer and that was the job he was on......... he wouldn't use the ear defenders preferring to have his music in his ears, now he reckons his hearing isn't as good as it used to be!!...... I did try and warn him but they know best!!

Pro Gard said:
" It is often corporate or council gardeners, rather than small-scale home garden contractors, who are at the highest risk of developing Vibration White Finger."

Total utter crap, the risk is equal.

The best way to avoid VWF is to select machines with low vibration levels, replace vibration mounts regularly, keep the hand warm and perhaps wear anti vibe gloves. The HSE would say that the solution is to adhere to hourly use guidelines but for a one man band this is impossible.
jamesalbertclifton September 27, 2010 at 9:45am

Extended strimming is the worst for me for vibration I have tried alternating hand and grip positions but when on full throttle it really does vibrate the old digits.On my lawnmower I fitted Fizik bar gel and tape for bycyces this gave a nice cushioned grip and soaked up some of the vibration this cost abt 20 quid .I did try these anti vibe gloves vibram or something they make your hands look like the michelin man and make you sweat crazily also they are kind of clumsy and unfortunately they fall to bits rather quickly so I think it is best to apply any absorbent gel or grips to the machine itself without making it unuseable .I may try the bar gel trick with the strimmer throttle trigger but will have to use glue to attach it there,I always wear a pair of rubber palmed builders goves as I am sure even that thin layer helps
Lawncare-4u.co.uk September 27, 2010 at 10:37am

the pro-flex i bought -black/orangr from screw-fix just to replace grey/yellow are softer so you can actually move your hand !! -great

Paul Williams said:
I always get problems with VWF this time of year - it can be very painful. I have yet to find any anti vib gloves that are actually comfortable to wear. Proflex & Timberland pro gloves are very uncomfortable so I have decided to get some Gore Tex gloves & hope for the best.
Lawncare-4u.co.uk September 27, 2010 at 11:03pm

yes , they seem warmer too .

Paul Williams said:
Are these the ones you mean Robin?

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/22574/Workwear-PPE/Protective-Clothin...
Handling-Proflex-Anti-Vibration-Gloves

If they are more comfortable I will give them a try.

Gardens4u.co.uk said:
the pro-flex i bought -black/orangr from screw-fix just to replace grey/yellow are softer so you can actually move your hand !! -great

Paul Williams said:
I always get problems with VWF this time of year - it can be very painful. I have yet to find any anti vib gloves that are actually comfortable to wear. Proflex & Timberland pro gloves are very uncomfortable so I have decided to get some Gore Tex gloves & hope for the best.
Lawncare-4u.co.uk September 28, 2010 at 12:02am

think they are looking at the 'claims' side of things : harder if ur self employed i guess lol.

Pro Gard said:
" It is often corporate or council gardeners, rather than small-scale home garden contractors, who are at the highest risk of developing Vibration White Finger."

Total utter crap, the risk is equal.

The best way to avoid VWF is to select machines with low vibration levels, replace vibration mounts regularly, keep the hand warm and perhaps wear anti vibe gloves. The HSE would say that the solution is to adhere to hourly use guidelines but for a one man band this is impossible.