Although Oklahoma construction workers may use gloves to keep their hands warm during the winter, they may not realize that there are more risks than just a loss of comfort when their gloves are off. One of the most common neuromuscular disorders for construction workers is also believed to be very costly and significantly underappreciated. In fact, hand-arm vibration syndrome can be misdiagnosed, under-reported or unrecognized. However, it may affect at least 1 million workers in the fields of construction and manufacturing. <\/p>\n
HAVS involves serious damage to the nerves and blood vessels of the hand because of vibration. Workers are exposed to vibration over extended periods as they operate certain types of equipment. Examples include chain saws, pneumatic hammers, concrete vibrators and other equipment that vibrates. Workers may grip these tools tightly for safety reasons. However, a tight grip may intensify the damage that can occur. Cold air can exacerbate the damage, an issue that might particularly affect those who smoke while they work. <\/p>\n