For most people, job related problems are usually of the interpersonal nature. Dealing with annoying people or deadlines that cause your stomach to clench just becomes something that you deal with and move on. There are some people who risk physical harm every day though for the sake of making enough money to pay their bills.
Of course the men and women who work as fire fighters and police officers or who serve in the armed forces put it all on the line every day. They take things to the next level to keep the rest of us safe. But other people face and deal with other occupational hazards that can cause them suffering for years to come if they are not careful to take preventative measures.
One such hazard is doing work that puts you in the situation of dealing with harmful vibrations. People who perform tasks using things like power tools, chainsaws or jackhammers can sometimes face problems later in life. Hand-arm vibration syndrome, also referred to as HAVS, “white finger syndrome”, or Raynaud’s phenomenon can be caused by the repeated use of vibrating machinery. Although the condition is not fully understood, it is believed that the small nerves and blood vessels in the fingers are damaged over time. Among other things, people can find themselves suffering aches and pains as well as a loss of gripping strength.
Symptoms of HAVS include fingers that start out white but then proceed to a bluish color. This is caused by the inability of oxygen rich blood to get to the extremities. Once the flow of blood is no longer restricted, the inflow of fresh blood can cause a reddening of the fingers that is accompanied by an uncomfortable throbbing or tingling sensation.
High quality anti-vibration gloves are designed to absorb some of the shock that would otherwise be transmitted directly to the hands and arms of the person using vibrating machinery. There is quite a bit of research material available both on and off the internet regarding this syndrome. There are also a variety of anti-vibration gloves on the market designed to prevent the damage that can be caused by it. For a relatively low price, it would seem that these work gloves could be a wise investment for those working with vibrating machinery of any sort.