title: The Hand-Arm Vibration International Consortium (HAVIC): prospective studies on the relationship between power tool exposure and health effects.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Hand-Arm Vibration International Consortium (HAVIC) is a collaboration of investigators from Europe and North America studying health effects from hand-arm vibration (HAV). Features include prospective design, cross-cohort exposure, and health assessment methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two new cohorts (dental hygienists and dental hygiene students), two existing cohorts (Finnish forest workers, and Swedish truck cab assemblers), and a previous population (US shipyard workers) are included. Instruments include surveys, quantitative medical tests, physical examination, and work simulation and data logging to assess exposure. New methods were developed for nerve conduction and data logging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings on the relationship between nerve conduction and skin temperature in HAV-exposed subjects resulted in a new approach to subject warming.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Integrating established cohorts has advantages over de novo cohort construction. Complex laboratory tests can be successfully adapted for field use.
authors.affiliation: Ergonomics Technology Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030-6210, USA. cherniack@nso.uchc.edu
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cherniack
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Brammer
authors.forename: Ronnie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lundstrom
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Tim F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Morse
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neely
authors.forename: Tohr
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Esko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toppila
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Warren
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005060:Europe; D053421:Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009790:Occupations; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014481:United States; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*