Employees in the landscaping industry in California face multiple safety hazards, one of which is the frequently overlooked threat of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). This occupational hazard threatens workers in all occupations in which they use vibrating power tools such as chain saws, grinders, drills and jackhammers. If HAVS are not treated timely and left to develop fully, the harm will be irreversible because there is no surgical procedure or other cure for it. If HAVS can be proved to be work-related, affected employees might be eligible for workers' compensation benefits.
HAVS is an occupational condition that develops gradually, at a rate that depends on the exposure level. Initial symptoms typically include numbness or tingling sensations in one or more fingers or the hands, and exposure to the cold could cause them to go white. At first, these sensations will likely last only minutes at a time.
