The HavFree
The Problem
HAVS is an occupational condition that is common with people who work in industries that require the use of power tools. There are three elements to HAVS, they are vascular, musculoskeletal, and neurological.
The symptoms of HAVS are pain, numbness, coldness in the hands, reduction in dexterity and loss of strength in the hand and arm. HAVS is irreversible and leads to permanent impairment and lasting symptoms. Patients have reported debilitating effects of this disease that affect their work life, home life and overall well being.
The symptoms of HAVS are pain, numbness, coldness in the hands, reduction in dexterity and loss of strength in the hand and arm. HAVS is irreversible and leads to permanent impairment and lasting symptoms. Patients have reported debilitating effects of this disease that affect their work life, home life and overall well being.
The HavFree Proposal
The HavFree device protects workers from developing occupational diseases such as Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) from power tools. The product monitors vibration the user is exposed too and alerts them when they reach specific predetermined thresholds of vibration. The HavFree also tracks tools vibration expose levels and signals when tools need repair or replacement. An app and website will provide access to historic and current exposure data.
Research Process
The research process involved academic reading, industry investigation, interviews with experts and manual workers, benchmarking, experiments, and online surveys.
Concept Verification & Experimentation
Development
The electronics for the device needed to be housed in a casing and different options around attaching the electronic casing to work gloves were explored. A series of shape mock ups were created first using foam and then potential fitting methods were 3d printed. A compression snap fit was chosen as the optimal joining method for this application.
Prototyping
To validate the assumption that the primary function of the product would work,(measures vibration) a “works like prototype” using an accelerometer and a gyroscope was created. The prototype was then tested using different power tools. The results were consistent over a number of iterations and were as expected, thus concluding that the products’ primary function would work.
Final Design Key Features
The products key features are, vibration monitoring system, tool maintenance system and a vibration exposure database.
These combined systems will help prevent the development of HAVS by reducing the amount of vibration workers are exposed to daily. The identification of tools that have high exposure outputs and may need repair or replacement, will further reduce the risk of HAVS. The ability to check a workers vibration exposure data history will facilitate the employer’s ability to identify trends and thus take steps to reduce health and safety risks.
User Experience
The worker sets up the device by securing the compression fit top and base on to the working glove. The HavFree is activated using the switch on the side of the device.
When the worker wishes to connect to the Wi-Fi to upload their data they press the button on the top of the device which will activate the Wi-Fi module. The LED's will flash to indicate the wi-fi has connected. The lower button on the device is then used to send the data. Once the data has been transmitted the LED's will flash again to indicate the data has been sent.
During the day, should the worker become exposed to a predetermined exposure of vibration the LED's in the centre of the device will light up, alerting the user to the potential over exposure. At the end of the working day the worker will detach the base and top with a simple pop movement and place the device into the charger.
HavFree App
The user can choose whether they wish to look at their own exposure levels or can check if the tool they are planning on using is showing any anomalies or high vibration readings. The employee can also check back over the historic data and understand how much vibration they have been exposed to
