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HAVS is an abbreviation for hand-arm vibration syndrome and is typically characterised by white fingers.
If you have been exposed to HAVS in the workplace, you may be entitled to compensation under your occupational injury insurance.
What is HAVS?
HAVS is an injury to blood vessels and nerves in the hands and fingers. The injury can cause various symptoms such as cold, white fingers, reduced strength and sensitivity, tingling and numbness and pain. The symptoms can vary in character from person to person and can occur alone or in combination. The symptoms typically develop over several years, but this can also vary from person to person.
The development of the injury is linked to prolonged use of hand-held vibrating tools such as chainsaws or drills. If you have been employed in a position where you have been exposed to vibrating tools over a long period of time, you may develop the disease. There is no cure, but it is generally recommended to avoid further exposure. It is also important to consult a medical specialist to have your symptoms assessed and a diagnosis made.
When are you entitled to compensation?
If you are diagnosed with HAVS, you should notify your employer so that this is reported both to NAV and to the insurance company where the employer has taken out occupational injury insurance. HAVS can be recognised as an occupational disease that is equivalent to an occupational injury. This is stated in the regulations on occupational diseases, climatic diseases and epidemic diseases to be equated with occupational injury.
If you have contracted HAVS at work, this must be recognised as an occupational disease by NAV. If an occupational disease has been recognised by NAV, you can also apply for workers' compensation from NAV. Whether you are entitled to compensation, and if so, how much, depends on the degree of disability caused by the injury and associated ailments.
You may also be entitled to compensation for occupational injuries under the occupational injury insurance. The basic principle is that if you have suffered an occupational disease, you are entitled to full compensation for your loss. However, this presupposes that the other basic conditions for compensation are met, including that there is a causal link between the occupational disease and the specific loss.
The amount of compensation you will receive depends on the severity and extent of your injuries and how the illness affects your ability to work. Occupational injury compensation includes various forms of compensation. In short, you may be entitled to compensation for incurred and future loss of income, incurred and future expenses, incurred loss of work at home and personal injury compensation. In addition, you may be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable and necessary legal expenses in connection with the insurance case.
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Maja Agnes Simonsen
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