By Marlon Fawkes. Last Updated 10th October 2022. This is a guide on claiming for white finger – also known as hand-arm vibration syndrome or vibration white finger. Vibration white finger can be developed as an industrial disease – caused by unsafe conditions at a place of work.
When you are at work, your employee owes you a duty of care – this is a responsibility to take reasonably practicable steps where they can to ensure your safety. White finger claims could be made by employees who did not receive suitable levels of protection from their employer. You could be eligible to claim if your employer breached their duty of care.
This guide will talk to you about whether you are eligible to make a claim, how to make a claim, what you may need to do to prove your employer’s liability and what a vibration white finger claim could entail.
Contact Us About A White Finger Claim From The Government Scheme
If you think you could be entitled to receive compensation. Call Accident Claims UK today on 0800 073 8801 for your free consultation. We are a trusted personal injury solicitors that can help you claim the compensation you are entitled to. One of our friendly advisors will assess whether or not you have legitimate grounds for making a vibration white finger claim. If you have legitimate grounds to claim vibration white finger compensation, we will advise you on what compensation amount you could claim and provide an expert personal injury solicitor to handle your claim.
Should you have experienced vibration white finger because of someone else’s negligence, hold them accountable by claiming vibration white finger compensation claims. You will also have the option to pursue a No Win No Fee vibration white finger claim.
Time limits for making a vibration white finger claim from the government scheme or from someone else
If you’re thinking about making vibration white finger claims, you need to ensure you begin legal proceedings within the relevant time limit for your case. If you didn’t already know, there are certain limitation periods for making personal injury claims. In a typical case, the time limit for claiming will be 3 years from the date of your accident. However, in cases where you weren’t able to claim within this period, the time limit could begin at a later date. For example, you were mentally incapacitated after your accident or you didn’t realise that your injures were because of third-party negligence until after 3 years had already passed. To learn more about time limits, please get in touch today for a free consultation.
Select A Section:
- A Guide To Claiming Compensation For Vibration White Finger
- An Introduction To Hand Arm Vibration And Vibration White Finger Injuries
- Advice And Vibration Injury Prevention
- How Do People Get Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome And Vibration White Finger Syndrome?
- What Steps You Should Take If You Have VWF Syndrome?
- Which Tools Most Frequently Cause Vibration White Finger
- How To Start Your Vibration Injury Compensation Claim
- What Can You Include In A Personal Injury Claim?
- Vibration White Finger Compensation Payouts For 2022
- No Win No Fee VWF Compensation Claims
- Why Choose To Work With Us?
- Useful Links Relating To White Finger Claim From The Government
A Guide To Claiming Compensation For Vibration White Finger
vibration white finger claims
Accident Claims UK has created this guide to help victims make vibration white finger claims. In this guide, we will go over vibration white finger symptoms and white finger syndrome treatment. We will also cover how you can bring a personal injury claim if you have suffered VWF due to an accident that wasn’t your fault and will look at how large your white finger settlement could be.
Clients often ask how large the vibration white finger injury compensation amount they can claim would be. Many of our clients are awarded tens of thousands of pounds for their vibration white finger claim, so it’s well worth seeking compensation. What’s more, Accident Claims UK offers their clients the chance to use our No Win No Fee service to bring your vibration white finger claim, meaning that there’s no upfront fee to pay and nothing to pay unless you win your compensation claim.
Who are Accident Claims UK?
We are a well respected personal injury solicitor firm that specialises in helping clients make personal injury claims for injuries like vibration white finger, as well as accidents at work due to manual handling, slips, trips and falls and more. If you have suffered from vibration white finger, which was caused by an accident that was not your fault, we would love to help you claim the compensation you could be legally entitled to.
We offer a free, no-obligation legal consultation to advise you on your options for making vibration white finger claims. If you have a legitimate claim, we will estimate how much compensation you could claim and find the right compensation solicitor to handle your compensation claim. Call now to start your vibration white finger compensation claim today.
What is vibration white finger (VWF)?
This is a syndrome that sees the victim suffer vibration on a regular basis due to an industrial appliance or vibrating tool. And if this happens at work, then you could potentially file a claim for compensation.
How could I make a claim?
Your employer has a responsibility to take all reasonably practicable steps to keep you safe in the workplace. Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome is a well known risk to working with vibrating machinery. As part of their responsibilities, your employer should:
- Inform you of the risks
- Provide you with alternative machinery if possible
- Introduce provisions such as breaks
Protecting you from harm
These are actions employers can take to protect you, and prevent you developing an injury. You could be eligible to make a claim for white finger syndrome, if your employer had failed to take practical steps to protect you in your place of work.
Our advisers can help by listening to your case and explaining whether your employer could be found liable for your injury.
An Introduction To Hand Arm Vibration And Vibration White Finger Injuries
Vibration white finger (also known as VWF) is an injury affecting the hands caused by the use of vibrating machinery and tools too often. The condition can affect parts of the hand and wrists, such as the blood vessels, nerves, and the components of the joint itself. Vibrating finger damage could be chronic, or it could only be minor.
We all use our hands in everyday situations, from working, to driving, to preparing food and drink, to washing and dressing. So like other hand injuries, vibration white finger can be a very debilitating condition as it makes everyday tasks harder to perform. If you, the victim, has a practical job, such as using pneumatic drills or some such hand arm vibration syndrome HAVS makes it even harder to work. This means that the sufferer may also lose income if they are unable to work.
Symptoms of a vibrating finger
The most frequently occurring symptoms associated with vibration white finger syndrome can be numbness or tingling feelings in your fingers, as well as general feelings of pain. They also include a loss of dexterity in the fingers which can make it harder to grip items, a red or white discolouration in the hands and whiteness of the finger that starts at the tip and can continue down to the palms of your hands.
If you have suffered these symptoms, discuss how vibration white finger claims work with our team. And this could lead you to receive vibration white finger compensation.
Advice And Vibration Injury Prevention
What Is The Legislation To protect Workers From Vibration White Finger?
Unfortunately, once vibration white finger syndrome develops, it is a permanent condition. Fortunately, VWF can be prevented. Under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, employers are legally responsible for their employee’s health and safety whilst at work. This includes taking regular risk assessments and identifying hazards (things that could potentially cause accidents leading to an illness or injury to their employees). In avoiding VWF, this would include taking necessary precautions to ensure that employees using vibrating machinery at work, such as drills, are protected from contracting vibration white finger.
White finger claim government compensation – could you claim?
In more recent years, there have also been further regulations to protect workers from suffering VWF. The Control of Vibration at Work regulations 2005 was put in place to require employers to take specific steps to protect workers from the condition. There is also a government-led vibration white finger scheme that entitles workers who are left unable to work because of VWF to claim a vibration white finger pension and white finger government benefits.
Prevention Of Vibration White Finger
As stated, it is the responsibility of your employer to protect you from vibration white finger symptoms. However, there are also steps that manual workers can take to protect themselves if they work with vibrating tools.
Ways to prevent vibration white finger:
- Always use the right tool for the right job.
- Seek to use low vibration rather than high vibration tools where possible.
- Avoid unnecessary extra vibrations caused by general wear and tear or any faults. Check the tools you are using have been kept in good condition.
- Keep cutting tools in good sharp condition to maximise efficiency.
- Avoid putting pressure on your hands by gripping a tool too tightly or forcing it beyond its recommended use.
- Take regular breaks or alternate between using vibrating tools and other work.
- Store tools so that when they are next used, the handles aren’t very cold.
- Use anti-vibration gloves when working.
Discuss vibration white finger claims for vibration white finger compensation with our expert team.
Vibration White Finger Treatment Options and Testing:
If you think you may be suffering from vibration white finger, you will first need to undergo a vibration white finger test to see if you are experiencing any of the symptoms or are suffering from the injury. You will also have to have a Raynaud’s syndrome test to see if you have the symptoms of this condition instead of a VWF injury.
Testing for Vibration White Finger injuries
- Thermal Aesthesiometry: This test measures the performance of thermal (heat and cold) receptors in the wrists, hands, and fingers.
- Vibrotactile Threshold: The test measures the sensitivity of the mechanoreceptors in each hand’s nerves, testing through texture, vibration, and stretching.
- Cold Provocation: The test is carried out to find any visual evidence of the area being blanched.
- Perdue Pegboard: this test measures each hands level of dexterity. The aim is to record whether there has been any reduction in the level of function in each hand.
Accident Claims UK can arrange for you to undergo these tests to determine the extent of your injuries if you have yet to undergo them. This could be very important for your vibration white finger claims.
Is vibrating finger damage permanent?
Unfortunately, vibration white finger is an incurable and permanent condition, which is another reason why it can be so debilitating. However, there are some white finger syndrome treatments available to ease the vibration white finger symptoms the victim is suffering from.
This includes advising the patient to quit smoking, restricting the blood flow to the fingertips, ending the use of vibrating tools immediately and referring the patient for specialist treatment with a dermatologist, rheumatologist, or a neurologist. This can include treatment protocols for managing white finger syndrome. Note that you could receive money back for medical treatment costs in vibration white finger compensation.
How Do People Get Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome And Vibration White Finger Syndrome?
This injury is often associated with the long-term use of machinery, equipment, or tools that vibrate. People who can be affected can include people working in construction who use machinery and power tools, including hammer drills, chainsaws and power sanders. It will generally affect those who use this type of equipment for several hours a day, each day. The injury can affect any person who operates such machinery.
Initially, the symptoms may be intermittent. However, if the person using the machinery continues to do so, the symptoms can become persistent over time. Vibration white finger symptoms are often worsened if the vibrating power tools have been made cold.
How is vibration white finger caused?
The condition occurs when heavy and repeated vibration causes vasoconstriction of the muscles and hypertrophy. This affects the endothelial cells, damaging the cell wall. The cells become damaged as the body releases both release of serotonin and thromboxane all at once. The blood vessels in the fingers become deprived of blood, turning them white. In extreme cases of oxygen deprivation, the affected digits can even become blue. Vibration white finger may affect one or more fingers.
If you suffer from vibration white finger symptoms, you may also suffer from osteoporosis in the wrist and elbow, cysts and reduced grip strength in addition to the condition itself. If your employer neglected to protect you from vibration white finger, then you could be entitled to claim thousands of pounds in white finger compensation payouts.
Call the solicitors at Accident Claims UK today to discuss vibration white finger claims.
What Steps You Should Take If You Have VWF Syndrome?
If you start developing the symptoms of vibration white finger, you should immediately seek medical attention. If you have developed the symptoms of the condition because of negligence on the part of your employer or another party and wish to begin vibration injury claims for white finger compensation, take the following steps to help gather evidence to support your claim. Gathering this evidence will help your vibration white finger compensation solicitor put together a solid case to help you make your vibration white finger claim. It could also affect the white finger compensation payouts from the vibration white finger compensation scheme.
What to do if you suffer vibration white finger
Notify your employer of your condition.
If you start showing symptoms of vibration white finger, report this to your employer. Your employer should immediately change your responsibilities, so you are no longer at risk.
Make notes
Write a written report of your experiences at work which caused your vibration white finger symptoms. This could be a list of the machinery you were required to operate, which caused your condition, how long you were made to operate it and how often.
Seek a medical report
Seek to be assessed by a doctor. Your doctor can then give you a comprehensive medical report which will determine the extent of your injuries, how serious your condition is and what treatment it will need. Your doctor will also be sure to advise whether or not you will be okay to work again. Not only is this important for your own physical condition, but the medical report will also help your solicitor determine the size of the white finger settlement you should receive for your vibration white finger claims.
Receipts
If your claim for vibration white finger compensation is successful, you can claim back your expenses associated with your injuries. This could include the cost of your medical treatment and medication, associated travel expenses, care expenses (including compensation of a friend or family member who had to care for you) and the cover of at-home equipment you may need. You can also claim expenses for loss of earnings, a vibration white finger pension, loss of future income, or the cost of retraining for a new profession if you have to leave your current job due to your injuries.
As there are a variety of different pieces of work equipment or job roles which can lead to people developing vibration white finger, it is essential people are aware of the potential risks and take preventative steps.
Which Tools Most Frequently Cause Vibration White Finger
Those working in construction roles, as well as any job role in which you need to use a vibrating power tool repeatedly throughout the day, daily for several hours continually, have a higher chance of developing the symptoms. How long it takes for the symptoms to present varies from person to person.
For some, the symptoms may become noticeable within a couple of months or so. For others, the condition will develop over a period of several years. However, those using the equipment or working in the industries highlighted are at a greater risk of developing VWF symptoms.
Tools
Those using equipment such as hammer drills, jackhammers or other equipment that vibrate expose themselves to a greater risk of getting the condition.
If you are a construction worker or another type of worker who regularly uses vibrating power tools such as jackhammers, hammer drills, chainsaws, and sanding machines are the most vulnerable to conditions like vibration white finger. If you already suffer from a neurological or vascular condition such as Raynaud’s disease or carpal tunnel syndrome, you should avoid using vibrating power tools altogether as this can cause further damage to your already damaged cells.
Vibration white finger claims could help compensate those affected by these conditions.
How To Start Your Vibration Injury Compensation Claim
If you are experiencing the symptoms of VWF, you may be entitled to a white finger compensation payout. Whether your injuries have affected a single finger, white fingers and no circulation or your entire hand and wrist area are now disabled due to your vibration injury. You could be entitled to pursue a vibration white finger claim. Trust a vibration white finger compensation solicitor from Accident Claims UK to represent your personal injury claim. To get your claim started today, call us for your free legal consultation.
Am I eligible for white finger claim government compensation
We will determine whether or not you have legitimate vibration white finger claims for compensation. If you do, we will estimate how much compensation you can claim and provide you with the right solicitor to handle your claim. We can also advise you on how the government’s vibration white finger scheme works and how to claim a vibration white finger pension or related benefits. We hope that the vibration white finger injury compensation scheme will be able to assist you, in addition to the compensation you have claimed from your negligent employer.
What Can You Include In A Personal Injury Claim?
If you make a vibration white finger claim for compensation or any other type of personal injury claim, your white finger settlement will be in two parts. The first part will be your general damages. This will be your largest white finger compensation payout which will compensate you for your injuries and the pain and suffering they have caused you.
Your secondary payout will be special damages. These will compensate you for any costs associated with your injuries, such as medical expenses, travel expenses, at-home care expenses and loss of income or loss of future income. If you are no longer able to work in your chosen field due to your injuries, you could also be compensated for the cost of retraining for a new profession.
Vibration White Finger Compensation Payouts For 2022
Now that we have explained how vibration white finger claims work, you may be wondering how much you could receive should your claim be successful. This can be a tough question to answer, as the average payout for a vibration white finger claim doesn’t exist. In personal injury claims, the amount you could receive in general damages is calculated depending on your unique case.
However, the 2022 edition of the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG) can give you some idea of what you could potentially receive. The JCG helps legal professionals calculate the value of personal injury claims by providing guideline amounts based on past court cases, as illustrated below.
| Injury type | Severity | Settlement band | Further notes: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finger Injuries (d) | Amputation of Index and Middle and/or Ring Fingers | £61,910 to £90,750 | The effective or total loss of these finger(s). |
| Hand Injuries (e) | Serious | £29,000 to £61,910 | Where fingers may have been lost and reattached or otherwise function is reduced considerably. |
| Finger Injuries (f) | Severe Fractures | Up to £36,740 | Severe fractures to the fingers. |
| Hand Injuries (g) | Less serious | £14,450 to £29,000 | Where the use of the hand is severely impaired. |
| Hand Injuries (h) | Moderate | £5,720 to £13,280 | Reduced functionality in one or both of the hands. |
| Finger Injuries (j) | Index Finger Fracture | £9,110 to £12,240 | Where the persons grip has been impaired. |
| Finger Injuries (k) | Serious Injury to Ring or Middle Fingers | £10,320 to £16,340 | There is a permanent loss of grip and dexterity. |
| Finger Injuries (m) | Amputation of Little Finger | £8,640 to £12,240 | The complete loss of this finger. |
| Finger Injuries (o) | Loss of a part of your little finger | £3,950 to £5,860 | Where the tip that remains is sensitive |
These figures are not guarantees, only guidelines, and pertain only to general damages. The final compensation you may receive could vary from the figures shown above, especially when you consider any special damages you could be eligible for.
For a free estimate of what your individual claim could be worth, contact our team of advisors today by following the information at the top of the page. They can provide a free and confidential consultation, in which they can provide free legal advice and may be able to tell you if your claim could be valid.
No Win No Fee VWF Compensation Claims
If you have suffered vibration white finger due to the negligence of your employer or another party, Accident Claims UK can help you to make a no win no fee vibration white finger claim. What does no win no fee mean? It means that your solicitor will offer you a conditional fee agreement (CFA) so that you will only pay your solicitors success fees if you win your vibration white finger compensation claim. Yes, that’s right, there’s nothing to pay unless you win, meaning there’s no financial risk to you. For many claimants, this is the less stressful and financially risky route to claiming compensation for VWF.
To enquire about No Win No Fee vibration white finger claims today, call us to speak to one of our expert legal advisors.
Why Choose To Work With Us?
Why should you trust an Accident Claims UK solicitor to help you claim compensation for vibration white finger? We are a well-respected solicitor’s firm who put our clients at the centre of everything we do. If we take on your compensation claim case, we will make sure that we will fight relentlessly to win you the maximum amount of compensation that you are entitled to. If you think you may be due a white finger compensation payout, don’t delay.
Thank you for reading our guide to vibration white finger claims. Call us today for your free legal consultation, as we can explain what your legal rights are. If we think you have a legitimate case, we’ll get started with your claim right away. We’re looking forward to working with you.
Useful Links Related To A White Finger Claim From The Government
A Raynaud’s disease NHS guide
In this guide from the NHS, you can find further information and advice about Raynaud’s disease, as well as treatment options.
A vibration white finger claim government guide
A guide to the government’s compensation scheme for those who have hand-arm vibration injuries.
Accident At Work Claims
This is our updated guide to claiming for workplace injuries, such as vibration white finger claims.
Finger Injury Claims
Our updated guide to finger injury claims looks at other conditions and injuries which may affect the fingers and hands.
Vibration white finger compensation FAQs
What are the symptoms of hand-arm vibration syndrome?
Hand-arm vibration syndrome is caused by vibration and affects the hands and fingers. The common symptoms of hand-arm vibration syndrome can be painful, and over time they may be disabling. They could include:
- Numbness and tingling.
- The loss of sensitivity in the nerves of your fingers and hands.
- Fingers may become swollen in cold temperature. When warmed up, they may become red and painful.
These symptoms could be aggravated by wet and cold weather. Over time those with this condition may find that they lose both dexterity and strength in their grip. They could also find that these symptoms affect their ability to sleep.
Can self-employed people make a white finger claim from the government?
Yes, it is still possible to make such a claim so long as your condition is the result of work.
How do you treat white fingers?
You should keep your hands warm while trying to improve circulation and avoid smoking.
Why is my finger vibrating?
This could be due to stress, muscle strain or anxiety.
What does it mean when your hands feel like they are vibrating?
This means that you could have nerve damage of various severity levels.
Is white finger serious?
It’s not particularly serious, but it can cause discomfort and chills within the fingers. However, it could also potentially indicate a separate severe condition, such as an industrial injury or industrial disease.
Can vibration white finger (WHF) cause nerve damage?
This may eventually result in permanent numbness within the fingers, though this isn’t always the case.
What is phantom vibration syndrome?
This is where your nerves sense that a phone is vibrating even when this isn’t the case.
How can I contact Accident Claims about a white finger claim from the government or someone else?
We offer free consultations with our team of specialist advisors. They’re available to talk 24/7 and can be reached via phone or our live chat feature for an immediate response. Alternatively, if you don’t yet feel ready to discuss your situation but you’d like to do so at a later date, you can arrange this by completing a contact form on our website.
What is vibration white finger?
If you’re asking ‘what is white finger’, the simplest explanation is that involves the restriction of blood circulation, usually in the extremities, such as the fingers. There are many different causes, including workplace exposure.
What is the cause of white finger?
If you’re wondering ‘what is the cause of white finger?’ there could be more than one answer. White finger could be caused by stress, or Raynaud’s phenomenon. It could also be caused by repeated vibration exposure. This is why some employees that develop white finger could go on to make vibration white finger claims.
Can I make a white finger claim as a government employee?
All employers must take steps protect their employees from reasonably foreseeable risks of harm from their work or workplace. If they fail to do so, and an employee develops white finger as the result, they could make vibration white finger claims. Government employees are not excluded from claiming against their employer.
What is vibration white finger also known as?
If you intend to make a white finger claim, the government website could be useful. IIDB could be something you’re eligible for. Vibration white finger is listed on the website as being called ‘prescribed disease A11’.
Is white finger a disability?
It could be considered a disability. As we mentioned, it is listed as a prescribed disease under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
Is IIDB paid for a fixed term or for life?
This would be dependent on the extent of the disability you suffer from.
Workplaces and roles
Are some workplaces or roles more likely to lead to people developing vibration white finger or hand-arm vibration syndrome? The Health and Safety Executive has identified certain industries and roles which are more likely to lead to people suffering from this condition. These include;
- Construction and building.
- Railway maintenance and construction.
- Land management roles such as those maintaining public grounds and parks or forestry.
- Heavy engineering roles.
- Those working in concrete manufacture.
- People working in quarries and mines.
- Automotive repair and manufacture.
If you work in any of these industries and develop the symptoms above, please speak to a doctor.
Vibration White Finger Statistics
The HSE has revealed that in 2019, there were 205 new cases of hand-arm vibration syndrome. You can see how this trend has fluctuated from previous years below.
Men are more likely to suffer from this type of injury than women, with a split from 2010 to 2019 showing that over 5620 cases, there were only 15 cases of women suffering from the condition. You can see this below.
How to prove your injury was work-related?
If you’re considering making a claim for VWF, then you would need to be able to evidence not only that you were suffering with the condition, but also that it was work-related. To do so, you’d need to have a medical assessment as part of your claim. By seeing an independent medical professional, you’d be able to obtain a medical report to help your case.
When you visit the independent medic, they will likely have reviewed any useful past medical notes. At your appointment, they would usually ask you some questions about your condition, and examine you. That way, they could ascertain the details of your condition and get enough information to write the medical report. Once your lawyer receives this, they could determine approximately how much compensation could be appropriate for your claim.
Evidence for court
If your case goes to court, the courts will need to see the evidence too. That way, they can come to an appropriate award for compensation. However, we should mention that many of these cases never reach the courts. Instead, many cases settle outside of court, via negotiations between the lawyers of both parties.
What could affect white finger compensation payouts?
There are various factors that could affect white finger compensation payouts. The level of severity of your condition could be assessed. So too could the effect of the condition on your ability to work, and your ability to enjoy life as you used to. The impact on your finances could also be measured. All these factors could impact the compensation you receive for your claim.
How can I prove a vibration white finger claim?
There are various steps you can take to prove a vibration white finger claim. Useful evidence could include pictures of your injuries and medical records. Also, witness contact details could help.
In addition to this, you could be asked to see an independent medical expert during your claim. They could assess your condition and detail their professional opinion as to the nature and severity of your white finger. This could influence how much compensation you could receive for your vibration white finger claim.
Thank you for reading our vibration white finger claims guide. We hope that you now have more awareness about vibration white finger compensation. If you want to make a white finger claim from the government or someone else, we could assist you.
