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Physical Stessors and the Human Body - page 3
Keywords: Human Body Physical Stessors Health Human Body
By JN on 02/06/2009
Level: Bachelor Honours Degree (BA, BEng, BSc etc)
Page Number: 3 of 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5individual is. Examples of tools and processes associated with white finger or other vibration issues are metal working tools, grinders and rotary tools, forest/ garden machinery and motorcycle handles.
Hand and arm vibrations affect the body in many different ways. The first effect is that it causes vascular disorders, ones relating to the blood, vessels and tissue. One of these disorders is vibration-induced white finger it is caused by impaired blood circulation and the effects are irreversible (See Appendix 2).
Another symptom from the impaired blood circulation is the blanching of effected fingers and hands. Blanching results in a loss of blood supply and colour and sometimes feeling, in the fingers. It can last from approximately fifteen minutes to an hour occasionally longer in worse cases. During blanching there is little or no pain and warming the hands can help ease an attack of blanching. On return of the blood flow to the fingers after the blanching attack the sufferer will experience a throbbing pain known as reactive hyperaemia and this signals the end of an attack (M.J Grifffin, 1990).
The second problem that may arise from working or being in a lot of contact with vibrations is the general aches, pains and stiffness of joins including wrists, elbows and shoulders. This pain and stiffness may also be related to colder weathers and temperatures (Health and Safety Executive, 1994).
Thirdly, vibration may cause neurological damage, which is to the nervous system, and damage muscles. Examples of this are numbness, tingling, reduced grip, reduced strength and dexterity as well as reduced sensitivity to touch and temperature. This causes enough problems within its self such as burns. These neurobiological issues mentioned, usually start with pins and needles and the sufferer not thinking very much of it, until it progressively gets worse. Finally it is rare but not unknown for the blood circulation to become permanently impaired causing a dark patch to appear in the effected area, eventually leading to gangrene (M.J Grifffin, 1990).
An environmental practitioner may become involved in the prevention of hand and arm vibration risk by firstly identifying what work is actually hazardous; they will do this by working with other professionals. Environmental health practitioners may measure the vibrations in terms of the frequency transferred from the vibrating surface, this will be done in accordance with British standards. They will work with technicians with this offering support and advice.
They will
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