Claiming compensation after suffering from Vibration White Finger

Vibration White Finger, known in short as VWF is a secondary form of Raynaud's disease, which is an industrial injury that is triggered by continuous use of vibrating hand held machinery.

Back in 1911 was when vibration white finger was originally linked to power tools; however it wasn’t recognised as a disease until 1985. Vibration white finger is a permanent condition but it is not life threatening.

Some of the main symptoms that are associated with vibration white finger are aches, pains, tingling and numbness. As well as these symptoms you will more than likely also suffer pins and needles and your hands will go numb while gradually turning white. This usually happens when your hands go cold so it is important that you try and keep your hands as warm as possible.

To help reduce the risk of vibration white finger it is the responsibility of your employer to make sure that you have received sufficient training in the use of vibrating power tools and that the correct safety equipment is provided, such as anti-vibration gloves. As well as this you need to make sure that you are taking regular breaks away from the vibrating power tools and that if any maintenance or repair work needs to be carried out on the power tools that it is done so.

Vibration white finger can have a dramatic effect on your life which is why if you are suffering from it you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. In 1997 there was an historic compensation payout for the suffering of vibration white finger, in which seven miners were awarded £127,000. Since this there have been thousands of cases relating to vibration white finger and yours could be next.

You are more likely to be suffering from vibration white finger is you are working within the following occupations:

• Concrete breakers, chipping
• Hammers, jigger picks
• Vibrating pokers
• Sanders, angle grinders
• Vibratory compactors
• Hammer drills, jigsaws

Vibration white finger is a specific injury that can affect your fingers, thumbs, hands, wrists or arms. It is caused by continuing exposure to vibration and can often result in the reduction of ability to carry out common functions. It causes the small blood vessels in your fingers to periodically spasm. These spasms then constrict the blood supply to your fingertips, which is what causes your fingers to turn white.

If you are suffering from vibration white finger, or you have had vibration white finger in the past three years then you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation. If you would like further information about making your compensation claim then there is plenty of information available online and to get your claim underway simply contact a legal team today, who will be able to assist you all the way through making your claim for compensation.

The compensation that you will be awarded in a successful compensation claim is designed to put you back in the financial position that you were in before the accident took place, meaning you can recover fully from your injuries without the added worry of being out of work.

Paul Barry is the web master of Accident Claim Aid, who are specialists in providing you with the very best in all aspects of making your Compensation Claim if you are or have suffered the affects of Vibration White Finger.