Most of us are aware that frequent or prolonged use of vibrating equipment or machinery can cause injury to the hands, wrists, arms, legs or even the whole bodies of those exposed to it. During the last ten years over 10,000 compensation claims have been made for Vibration White Finger, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and other illnesses and conditions brought on by exposure to vibration. As a result there are many within the industries that use such equipment who are looking for ingenious ways to reduce the damage caused, while maintaining the usefulness of the equipment that can cause the damage.
In some cases manufacturers have changed the designs of equipment so that the vibration is less dangerous to the user, in other cases systems are put in place to reduce the amount of time employees or contractors are allowed to use the dangerous machines.
Nottingham Trent University has taken a different approach: designing gloves featuring technology that warns the wearer when levels of vibration are approaching dangerous levels. These ‘E-Gloves’ are being developed to look just like a normal pair of workers’ gloves that can be worn and washed just like usual gloves, however they contain tiny vibration sensors embedded into the yarns which are knitted into the gloves. When the level of vibration the user has been exposed to is about to become dangerous, the gloves warn the user to stop work.
Dr Theodore Hughes-Riley, one of the research fellows at the University who is developing the technology says: By lowering the risk of exposure to dangerous levels of vibrations, we can help improve the lives of thousands of construction workers around the world by helping prevent them develop what can become permanent industrial diseases.
If you or someone you care for has suffered injury or illness as a result of vibration in the workplace, it’s quite likely that you will be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Contact us today for a free, no obligation discussion about your case and let us see how we can get you the payout you deserve.
