Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is complex, but its solutions can be very simple. In part, this is because it is a behavioural safety issue. Long-term prevention needs to focus less on filling-in forms, and more on understanding the action needed to prevent damage. This is where HAVi comes in.
“We offer clients a full, holistic solution, to meet compliance and protect their workforce,” said Managing Director Kate Louise Cole. “That’s the innovative bit. We are the only company to offer everything from start to finish. This includes initial audits, risk assessments, hardware provision and data analytics
to improve decision making. Our uniqueness is in our approach. We understand and can deliver the entire end-to-end solution.”
Crunching the numbers
When the company was founded by CEO Mike Swan in 2008, it initially offered a solution for measuring service intervals on premium landscaping equipment. “Being the entrepreneur he is, Mike spotted an opportunity to make a difference to safety and that led to the development of the very first HAVi Trigger Timer,” Ms Cole explained.
The Trigger Timer unit is attached to a tool and measures the amount of vibration
AN INTEGRATED SOLUTION TO A WORKPLACE PROBLEM
HAVi has been developing products and services to directly combat Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) since 2008. This has culminated in the most versatile HAV management system on the market today. Managing Director Kate Louise Cole explained more to Hannah Barnett.
exposure. This device then connects via RF to a smart wearable worn on the wrist or lapel of the operative. The wearable device provides the operator with real time alerts of potential HAV breaches and allows them to take timely corrective action. The data is also fed back to a central database, so the organisation can meet its obligations to reduce risk to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). HAVi’s focus in its early years was largely focused on devices and hardware such as the Trigger Timer and wearables, until Ms Cole identified an opportunity when she joined the business in 2020 to improve client outcomes by
Managing Director, Kate Louise Cole
transitioning towards a more service based business model.
“I have always believed that by delivering outcomes and services, an organisation can make a real difference to its clients,” she explained. “So, we pivoted from selling ‘things’ to providing outcomes. That is the single biggest change we’ve made. The business has been around almost as long as the original Control of Vibration at Work Regulations in 2005. This gives us credibility and authenticity in the market. We’re not a startup; we’re probably not even a disrupter. But we are trusted, and that’s one of the most important things when dealing with safety.”
The company’s products are, of course, still vital to its success. In part, this is because it
is the hardware that provides the foundation for better decisions. HAVi feeds the collected data automatically into its ActivIQ insight solution to allow an organisation to quickly determine and take action against the most critical tools, tasks, teams, rigs, projects and many other data points.
“I’m a real data geek,” said Ms Cole. “Data is the key to unlock change and improvement. Whilst we avoid approaching the market with any ego, as we believe it is the organisations themselves that decide to change, we do provide the correct stimulus for discussion to maximise the finite time and financial resources available. The QHSE community has a lot on its to-do list and managing HAV risk is only one of a number of critical risks.
Understanding this has been fundamental to our success so far.”
The company recently launched a new e-learning platform which aims to empower those directly using powered hand tools to engage with the long-term risk of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome. By creating best practice advocates on the ground who are capable of understanding and mitigating their own risk, the culture of Health & Safety can be reinforced and may free up much needed management time.
Whilst the design of the HAVi holistic solution clearly helps an organisation protect its workers from harm, it is also critical in ensuring the organisation and its directors are compliant and avoid the financial and reputational damage from fines or prosecution.
What is HAVS?
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) occurs when vibration generated by regular use of tools and machinery is transmitted to the hands and arms of operatives. It is a potentially debilitating condition. The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations were introduced in 2005 to limit workers exposure to vibration.
Kate Louise joined HAVi as Managing Director in 2020. Her authentic leadership approach recognises the importance of the team in achieving company success. She is passionate about leading a purpose-driven business that makes a real difference to health outcomes for clients. “Personally, I enjoy serving our clients and the people who work with me. I hope I can continue to lead in an authentic and enthusiastic manner for many years to come.”
“Enforcement activities have tended to be under the banner of the Health & Safety Executive (HSE),” Ms Cole explained. “However, we are seeing more and more private prosecutions for non-compliance going through the civil courts. These cases follow a chronology of a complainant’s employment history, requiring each employing organisation to demonstrate that it adequately protected the complainant during the time of their employment. Without control systems in place, meeting this high bar of proof is very difficult and has led to very significant penalties in recent months.”
About Kate Louise Cole
Dynamic risk assessment
The first step to successfully managing HAV risk is a Suitable and Sufficient Risk Assessment. The key to getting this right is accuracy. A company needs an accurate estimation of the vibration magnitude of each tool in use and an equally accurate estimation of the time its workers are exposed to that vibration.
“Partnering with HAVi will guarantee this important foundation step is covered, but the partnership will deliver so much more.” said Ms Cole. “We will work with you at each stage in compliance, from auditing the current situation, documenting your policies and procedures, measuring the vibration magnitude of your tools and implementing appropriate monitoring solutions. We will go further and help you identify critical areas for improvement and advise you on the corrective actions that have been proven to be effective. We will train your teams to be more aware of the risks and deliver tailored awareness campaigns to ensure HAV risk stays front of mind.
“No one else in the market can offer the breadth of scope we deliver day in day out, and I feel proud that the work we do makes a real difference.”
Explosive Atmospheres
Until 2021, workers operating in potentially explosive atmospheres were left woefully under protected from the risks of Hand Arm Vibration as there was no Ex-certified monitoring hardware available.
In May 2021, HAVi met this market need by launching the world’s only range of Ex-certified devices for monitoring HAV risk (ATEX, UKEX & IECEx). The range is fully complimentary with the company’s standard, non-Ex
range and has allowed the company to enter new markets in the oil and gas, and utilities sectors.
“For the Ex-certification project, we had the whole supply chain working together,” said Ms Cole. “We were all learning, and we had to move quickly. We took a core product that was non-Ex compliant, reengineered it to make it compliant and launched it into the market, all in the space of nine months. It was one of the most powerful collaborative projects I’ve ever been involved in. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it.”
Testament to the project’s success has been the three subsequent Ex audits by the Notified Body, all passed with 100% compliance and strong commercial growth in the company’s target markets.
What next?
“Our ethos is simple, we want to help people” Ms Cole reflected. “We want to continue to grow and invest in the Ex relevant sectors such as Oil & Gas and also amplify our voice in our traditional markets.
Raising awareness remains one of HAVi’s main challenges. The company intends to continue to remove barriers to engaging with managing HAV risk with straight talking, pragmatic advice. Their ability to simplify complex subject matter and present outcome led solutions that make a difference is what sets HAVi apart from competitors.
“Everything about us is honest and straight forward,” Ms Cole concluded. “There is absolutely no agenda, we simply tell you how it is and provide you the tools to improve health outcomes and keep your organisation away from costly enforcement actions.” n
