Symptoms are usually most noticeable when your hands get cold. Early symptoms are occasional attacks when the fingertips become white (blanching). The location and area affected may spread if you continue to use vibration inducing tools. The sufferer may notice the fingers become numb and/or a pins and needles sensation. In many cases when an attack gets to the later stage, the colour of the fingers changes to a deep red, this stage is often very painful.
Raynaud's phenomenon (Named after Maurice Raynaud 1834-1881) is a condition where there is insufficient circulation of blood in the hands and the fingers. This usually manifests itself with intermittent spasms of the fingers. Primary Raynaud's phenomenon is hereditary or of unknown origin. Secondary Raynaud's phenomenon includes VWf but symptoms are identical. Sensory nerve damage
The ability to register touch may be affected as will be the ability to register change of temperature on the surface of objects. You may also experience partial or permanent numbness and/or tingling in the fingers. Muscle and bone damage
You may notice a loss of strength in your hands and often pain in the wrists and arms is noticed. Symptoms may manifest themselves in a number of ways. Working in cold or wet conditions may trigger acute discomfort. You may find work, which requires dexterity becomes difficult as the fingers fail to send important messages to the brain. Fumbling for pins, nails and/or screws may occur.

Since 1994, there has been Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance on this matter.The guidance is contained in a HSE document known as HS(G)88. This document laid down what is known as an Action Level, which states that, any vibration exposure greater than the highest single axis (one dimension) measurement of 2.8m/s2 A(8) should be assessed and a course of action taken. This course of action would include identification of potential hazards (tools and operations), calculation of exposure time, implementation of a risk reduction programme, health surveillance, audit and management of exposure (policy, job rotation etc.)
On the 6th July 2002, the European Commission issued the Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive. This document specifies new minimum requirements with respect to exposure to the risks arising from HAV's. Member states have three years in which to implement the Directive. This means that in the UK, a set of Regulations will be implemented. The Hand Arm Vibration Regulations are due to become statute by July 2005.
The new Hand Arm Vibration Regulations will specify an Action Level above which employers are required to take certain actions; it also introduces an action limit, which must not be exceeded. The action level is set at 2.5m/s2 A(8) and the action limit is 5m/s2 A(8). These measurements are tri-axial (three dimensional) and are referred to as the Vector Sum.
You will note from the above, the HS(G)88 measurement and the Hand Arm Vibration Regulations measurement are different in so far as the HS(G) 88 figure is highest axis and the forthcoming regulations look at the Vector Sum. As a guide, the HS(G)88 figure can be expressed as a Vector Sum of approximately 4m/s2. You may have noticed the forthcoming Regulations will set a limit at 5m/s2, so some operations will need to be re-considered seriously!