Vibration White Finger Claims

Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) or Vibration White Finger (VWF) can be painful and affect your day to day activities, enjoyment and ability to take part in leisure activities.  It may also mean that you are unable to carry on with the same type of work you did previously.

If you are suffering from Vibration White Finger because of the type of work you do, or did in the past, then you may be entitled to claim compensation.

How we can help 

Compare Compensation Claims can put you in touch with a specialist workplace solicitor to help you claim the compensation that you are entitled to.  All our panel solicitors offer a free initial consultation so you can discuss your claim and ask any questions you may have without any obligation.

Ring us on Freephone: 0800 688 9553 to find out more or search our directory of highly rated and regulated solicitors to start your claim process.

Vibration White Finger (VWF) symptoms 

Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), or Vibration White Finger (VWF), is an occupational disease, often caused by working with vibrating tools for prolonged periods of time. If left untreated, it can become permanent.

Symptoms include: –

• Pain and  numbness in the fingers,
• Painful joints,
• Tingling sensation in the hands and arms,
• Loss of strength in the hand or arms, muscle weakening
• Blanching (whitening of the fingertips),
• Difficulty when trying to pick up small objects.

Hand-arm vibration syndrome is preventable by reducing exposure to vibration. Employers have a duty of care to reduce risk of HAVS by providing tools with reduced vibration and putting in safe working practices.

If you are suffering with hand-arm vibration syndrome caused due to workplace exposure, you may be entitled to claim HAVS compensation.

What you can claim for HAVS 

The exact amount of VWF compensation you are entitled to for general damages will depend on your pain, suffering and loss of amenity.

The compensation you can claim is divided into two types known as ‘general damages’ and ‘special damages’.

General damages are awarded for the severity of your injury, the pain and suffering the injury has caused you, considering your recovery time and how the injury has affected your daily life and enjoyment.  This includes physical and psychological injuries.

There are guidelines and legal presidents as to the amount of compensation you may be able to claim, however this varies on a case-to-case basis.  This is why it is important to have specialist legal representatives who can ensure you receive the maximum amount possible for your claim.

Special damages are financial losses and out of pocket expenses that you have suffered due to your injury.  These are usually quantifiable losses like medical expenses, medication,  medical treatment such as private physiotherapy, travel expenses and loss of earnings.  It is helpful to keep details of any expenses incurred including copies of receipts and invoices so that your legal representatives can claim this for you.

if you had to take time off work due to your injury you can claim for loss of earnings and potentially for any future loss of earnings.  It may also be possible to claim for any disadvantage you have in the open labour market if you are unable to return to the same job you did post-injury.

If you make a VWF claim, you may be able eligible for the following compensation amounts for general damages, depending on how severe your injury is:

The compensation amounts stated above are based on the Judicial Council Personal Injury Guidelines 17^th edition which provide estimates on the value of different types of claims.  For guidance of the amount of compensation you may be able to claim, you can use our compensation calculator.  Further guidance on hand injuries can be found on our hand injuries page.

Claims Process

Your legal representatives will make a claim on your behalf and manage all the stages of your HAVS claim. It is helpful for you to provide any necessary information and evidence, such as details of any expenses and losses you have suffered.

At each key stage of your claim your solicitors will provide you a progress update and you will be asked to approve any proposed settlement figure. The stages of your claim involve:

1. Investigation and Evidence Gathering – this includes obtaining medical evidence, photographs, loss of wage information, details of expenses, incident reports and witness details.
2. Medical Examination – your solicitors will arrange for an appointment with an independent medical expert who will assess your condition and prepare a report. This will help your solicitor value your personal injury claim and may be used to request private medical treatment to assist with your recovery and rehabilitation.
3. Submitting Claim – your solicitor will submit a claim on the Ministry of Justice Portal or issue a claim directly if the value of your claim falls outside of this protocol.
4. Settlement – if the defendants admit liability within the protocol period, then evidence is exchanged, and a settlement will be negotiated by the parties.
5. Court action – in the event that liability is not admitted (the defendants do not admit fault for your claim) or a settlement can’t be agreed, then court action may be necessary.

Funding your Claim

Compare Compensation Claims provides a directory of Solicitors who work on a No Win, No Fee basis, known as a Conditional Fee Agreement. This means that generally you will only pay a fee if your claim is successful and you receive compensation.

If your claim is successful and you receive compensation, the solicitor will charge you a success fee, which is capped at 25% of the compensation amount.

Time Limits to Make an HAVS Claim 

The time limit for making a personal injury claim is generally 3 years from the date of accident, or ‘date of knowledge’.

The ‘date of knowledge’ is when you first became aware of your injury or condition.This can be relevant to a hand-arm vibration syndrome compensation claim as your symptoms may only have been identified and diagnosed later.

If you were a minor at the time of the accident, then you have until your 21^st birthday to make a claim.

There may be other exceptions to this time limit which your workplace accident solicitor can help advise you on.

Employment – Legal Rights to Claim

Some injured workers may feel reluctant to make a claim in case they are treated unfairly at work or lose their job. However, you have a legal right to make a claim, and you should feel assured that:

• There are employment laws in place that mean your employer can not dismiss you, or treat you unfairly, if you do make a compensation claim.
• Every employer has a legal duty to have insurance in place (known as Employer Liability Insurance) and any successful claim will be paid out by the insurer, not your employer directly.

Why Choose Us 

Compare Compensation Claims can put you in touch with a specialist workplace accident solicitor to help you make a HAVS compensation claim.

• The solicitors listed in our directory come highly recommended, specialise in personal injury claims, and have a track record of success.
• Free consultation available to help you decide whether to proceed with a claim.
• Solicitors work on a no win, no fee basis.
• National service – we can connect you with solicitors based around the country.
• All our panel solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and members of the Law Society. Many are also members of APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers).

Contact us today to start your no obligatory claims process.

Vibration White Finger FAQs

What are the symptoms of vibration white finger (VWF)? 

The symptoms of VWF//HAVS include:

• pain, numbness in the fingers,
• tingling sensation in the hands,
• loss of strength in the hand or arms,
• blanching (whitening) of the fingertips,
• difficulty when trying to pick up small objects.

Which industries are workers most at risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS)?

HAVS is mostly associated with industries that use vibrating tools and machinery, such as manufacturing, construction, mining and transportation.

The Health and Safety Executive reports that extraction, energy and water supply was the industry with the highest rate of cases of vibration white finger in 2024. This was followed by the construction industry and manufacturing.

Can I claim for vibration white finger (VWF)?

Yes, you may be eligible to make a claim. Your employer has a duty of care to your health, safety and wellbeing.  If your employer has failed to provide adequate protection from vibrating tools and safe working practices, then they are negligent in their duty towards you.  A personal injury solicitor can advise you on the prospects of making a claim.  Compare Compensation Claims can put you in touch with a solicitor who will provide a free consultation to help you decide whether to proceed with a claim.

Can contractors claim for vibration white finger (VWF) compensation?

Yes, even if you are not a direct employee of a company, when you are doing work for them, they still have the same duty of care towards your safety.  If you are a subcontractor or consultant and your injury has been caused by your employer’s negligence, then you may be entitled to compensation.