By Danielle Graves. Last Updated 9th November 2022. Welcome to our article on vibration white finger compensation claims. Vibration white finger (VWF) is a condition suffered mainly by employees working with heavy machinery that causes numerous issues in arms, wrists and hands. It causes issues with the nerves, blood vessels and the joints. The major problem with VWF is that although it is possible to prevent, it’s typically impossible to cure once it has been diagnosed.
VWF can cause loss of use or the restricted use of fingers or the whole hand. Fingers can change colour or numbness and tingling in the hands and it is usually caused by the continuous use of vibrating equipment such as chainsaws, hammer drills, concrete breakers and disc cutters. Employers should assess the use of vibrating equipment as using a low vibrating tool over a long period could cause VWF more than using a high vibrating tool for a short period.
At Legal Helpline we have a specialist panel of personal injury solicitors who can file a vibration white finger claim for you right away.
If you believe your employer is to blame for your vibration white finger injury in any way or have been negligent in dealing with it after you highlighted a problem to them then we can help you to claim against them. To see if you could claim now, then call us on 0161 696 9685 and we’ll begin your free consultation.
Jump to a Section
- A Guide To Making A Claim For Vibration White Finger Compensation
- What Causes VWF And Hand Arm Vibration Injuries?
- Advice, Statistics, And Vibration Injury Prevention
- You Have Been Diagnosed With Vibration White Finger, What Should You Do?
- Common Tools And Jobs That Can Lead To Vibration White Finger
- What Can You Claim For If You Have VWF?
- White Finger Compensation Payouts
- Claiming For White Finger – No Win No Fee Lawyers
- Call Our Team Now For Free VWF Claims Advice
- Helpful Resources
A Guide To Making A Claim For Vibration White Finger (VWF) Compensation
When using machinery or tools at work that vibrates, you are at risk from VWF. Even low vibration tools, if used for too long, can result in vibration white finger claims and employers have a duty of care to all employers to ensure that the risk of VWF is removed as much as possible. The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 was introduced to ensure employers protected their employees from the risks of VWF and similar syndromes like Raynaud’s Syndrome.
Unfortunately, not all employers take the risks seriously and ask staff to carry on regardless which is why some employees have successfully made vibration white finger compensation claims and vibration injury claims as a way of compensating them for the injuries at work that they’ve sustained and, very often, permanent damage to their bodies.
This article will give you a fuller knowledge of VWF: the causes, the effects, how to prevent it and how to claim compensation for it. If there is anything that you’re not sure about, having read this article, contact us and we’ll happily answer any questions you may have about VWF, Raynaud’s Syndrome, HAVS or any other linked condition.
What Causes VWF And Hand Arm Vibration Injuries?
The vibration of machines used at work such as concrete cutters, chainsaws, angle grinders or pneumatic drills can cause VWF and even more so in cold conditions. Any tool that, when being operated, causes tingling or numbness in the hand could cause VWF.
vibration white finger compensation claims
When using these types of tools your body can cope with the tiny damage done when using them once or twice, but the serious damage can be done if you’re using the tools every day, over a long period and even more so if you’re working in cold conditions.
The actual medical cause of VWF is the damage to nerves and vessels in the fingers caused by every vibration. Individually the damage from vibration is unlikely to be significant but when the same damage is being done to the vessels and nerves every day, over a prolonged period, then VWF becomes permanent and can’t be undone.
If you think that the job you’re doing now, using vibrating equipment, is likely to cause damage if you continue to do it over a long period then we’d advise you to inform your employer of your concerns. They may already have conducted risk assessments or have plans in place to prevent VWF from being a problem for you.
To find out more about vibration white finger compensation claims, call our team.
Advice, Statistics, And Vibration Injury Prevention
The Health and Safety Executive have a list of suggestions that can prevent the onset of VWF which employers should be aware of as regulations are in place already to prevent VWF. If you think you’re at risk then you could:
- Suggest that your employer provides low vibration tools
- Check tools frequently to ensure they are maintained well (a blunt cutting tool, for instance, would take longer to do the job and therefore more vibration would occur)
- Reduce how long you use the same tool for, split your time between jobs.
- Don’t grip too hard if you don’t have to
- Keep tools stored somewhere warm as cold handles have been shown to increase the risk of VWF.
- Keep the blood circulating well in your hands by massaging and exercising your fingers, trying to give up smoking as this is bad for blood flow and keep dry and warm with hats, gloves and waterproofs.
In general, it is advisable to work with your employer, where possible, to suggest improvements to help reduce the risk of VWF and if you think you’re suffering the symptoms of VWF then you should let your employer aware immediately.
Vibration white finger compensation claims can be confusing. Call our team for clarity and free legal advice.
You Have Been Diagnosed With Vibration White Finger, What Should You Do?
If you’ve been diagnosed with VWF and it can be connected to employer negligence, you could be eligible for compensation.
There are steps you should take to improve the case against your employer that we recommend including:
- Tell your employer. This will enable them to make changes if you’re still able to work and some cases of VWF must be reported to the health and safety executive under RIDDOR regulations.
- Keep notes on how you think the problem has occurred and, if possible, keep copies of any emails or conversations you’ve had with your employer previously about working conditions.
- Seek medical advice. There are tests that medical professionals will complete to confirm the diagnosis.
- If you do need any immediate time off work or incur medical costs, then try to keep receipts as evidence of your financial loss.
- Photograph the equipment you’ve been using as evidence of which models were used, their state of repair and also record how long each day you would use them for.
Talk to our advisors to learn more about vibration white finger compensation claims.
Common Tools And Jobs That Can Lead To Vibration White Finger
Vibration white finger conditions are caused by any tool that causes vibration and that makes your hands tingle or numb when using for a sustained period. Lower vibration tools can still lead to VWF if used over a really long period which surprises some clients who think that the damage is caused by the bigger, heavier and faster pieces of industrial equipment.
The most common tools that lead to VWF according to the HSE, are:
- Chainsaws,
- Impact drills,
- Handheld saws,
- Sanders,
- Grinders,
- Scaling Hammers and
- Powered hammers for demolition and road breaking.
Similar tools may also lead to VWF if they vibrate when used and you can feel the vibration through your hands and wrists when using them.
It is possible to suffer from VWF in any industry but the common industries that have jobs at risk to VWF are (according to the Health & Safety Executive):
- Forestry
- Utilities (water, gas, electric)
- Civil engineering and construction
- Foundries
- Engineering
- Shipbuilders and repairers
- Engineering
- Parks and Gardens maintenance
Use our live chat to discover more about vibration white finger compensation claims.
What Can You Claim For If You Have VWF?
There are a number of items that you could claim when asking for compensation for vibration white finger and we will go through each of these with you to ensure you’re receiving the right amount for your compensation claim. The items you could claim include:
- The general damages element of the claim covers the pain and suffering you’ve incurred because of your VWF injury.
- Loss of earnings: If you had to take time off of work because of VWF then, if your employer only paid statutory sick pay, then you might be able to recover the lost earnings. Similarly, if you have had to stop working or take a lower paid job because of the VWF then you should be able to claim for future loss of earnings.
- Cost of care: If you have to be looked after or aided in any way because you’re unable to do all of the tasks that you used to do before the VWF then any costs associated with this care can be claimed back.
- Personal expenses: If you’ve had to pay for medical appointments, private medical care or prescriptions because of your VWF then you could claim this back. Also if you’ve had to modify anything at home, which can be linked to VWF then we’ll claim that for you as well.
Essentially, anything that’s caused you financial loss because of your personal injury could be recovered as part of your compensation claim. Chat (for free) to our expert advisors about vibration white finger compensation claims.
White Finger Compensation Payouts
We have included a table of potential figures for general damages that could be awarded as part of the compensation for your vibration white finger claim. General damages compensate for the pain and suffering your injuries have caused you to experience.
The figures come from the April 2022 edition of the Judicial College Guidelines. However, they are only a guide.
| Injury | Further notes or comments | Potential value |
|---|---|---|
| VWF Most serious | Particularly for younger people, where symptoms significantly disrupt daily life. | £31,640 to £38,430 |
| VWF Serious | With effects occurring throughout the year. | £16,760 to £31,640 |
| VWF Moderate | With effects likely to occur mostly in cold weather. | £8,640 to £16,760 |
| VWF Minor | Occasional effects in a few fingers. | £2,990 to £8,640 |
| Upper Limb Disorders (a) | Employment loss and continuing disability to both hands even after surgery. | £21,910 to £23,130 |
| Upper Limb Disorders (b) | Fluctuating unilateral symptoms. | £14,900 to £16,340 |
| Upper Limb Disorders (c) | The symptoms persist for up to three years. | £8,640 to £10,750 |
| Upper Limb Disorders (d) | Recovery occurs within a few months. | £2,200 to £3,530 |
Please speak to one of our advisers for advice on making a vibration white finger claim, to ensure that you seek the full amount you are eligible for and have everything in place to help make a successful claim.
Claiming For White Finger – No Win No Fee Lawyers
Claiming for white finger could be easier with the support of a solicitor. You could hire a solicitor under the terms of a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA) to help you claim white finger compensation. A CFA is a type of No Win No Fee arrangement.
A No Win No Fee solicitor won’t usually ask for an upfront solicitor’s fee. However, if your claim is successful, a legally capped success fee will be deducted from your white finger compensation. You will not be required to pay your solicitor if your claim is unsuccessful.
Get in touch today to find out more about vibration white finger claims.
Call Our Team Now For Free VWF Claims Advice
Free legal advice about vibration white finger compensation claims is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from our advisors. If your vibration white finger injury seems like it could have a good chance of success, you could be put in touch with our panel of solicitors. To talk to us:
- Call on 0161 696 9685
- Fill in our enquiry form
- Use our live chat
Helpful Resources
Here are a few more articles that you may find useful if you want to know more before making your vibration white finger compensation claim.
- Tinnitus Compensation Claims
- Supermarket Accident Claim
- Nerve Injury Claims
- Workplace Accident Claims
- HSE Pocket Card
- Raynaud’s Syndrome
Vibration White Finger Compensation Claims FAQs
Is white finger permanent?
According to the NHS, vibration white finger or hand-arm vibration syndrome as it might be called, is generally permanent.
Can you still claim for Vibration White Finger?
Generally, when claiming for VWF, there is a 3-year time limit from the date that you were diagnosed or realised you were injured. However, our team can tell you of exceptions if you call us on the number at the top of the page.
Why is vibration a serious health issue?
VWF is serious because it causes permanent pain, tingling and numbness in the hand and possibly arms.
If you have any further queries about vibration white finger compensation claims call our advisors.