Dec 12, 2022 | Crib Service and Support, HAVS, News, Tooling
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is the main concern posed by exposure to vibration. Sometimes this is called as ‘white finger’ or ‘carpal tunnel’ syndrome. HAVS is caused by the transfer of vibration through a workers hands and arms, in as little as 6 months. Nerve damage and restricted blood flow to the hands and fingers can occur. This causes the debilitating symptoms and effects known as Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome.
What Are The Effects of HAVS/Hand-Arm Vibration?
Some of the common symptoms of HAVS, as described by the HSE, are listed below. Many sufferers experience a wide range of debilitating effects due to the condition that can impact in both their day to day lives and in their ability to work.
- Pain, tingling and total loss of feeling
- Reduced strength and grip ability
- Muscle wasting
- Reynaud’s disease (White fingers that become painfully red)
The loss of feeling, and pain often results in sufferers struggling to work. This especially can happen in the industry that caused their condition. Because of this, in the day to day life, simple tasks such as doing up buttons and picking things up become challenging especially as the condition often deteriorates once developed. These symptoms make it clear that HAVS is a serious disease, which operators should be protected from.
What Work Causes HAVS?
Any work that includes consistent or frequent exposure to vibration through the hands or arms can lead to debilitating and permanent health problems. Most commonly this is caused by the use of a tool that vibrates during use, but it is important to recognise how broad this category is and the large number of operators that may be at risk.
Industries that can be affected are as follows :
- Road and rail workers
- Construction Industry
- Estate management
- Forestry
- Foundries
- Heavy Engineering
- Shipping
- Lab work
- Medicine
Examples of equipment and tools that pose a risk are as follows:
- Chainsaws
- Hammer Drills
- Lawn Mowers
- Saws
- Chisels
- Grinders
- Impact Wrenches
- Drills
- Sanders
- Strimmers/Trimmers
The most effective way of controlling & monitoring exposure is by carrying out HAV testing which we do at Cas Assembly and Tooling. Here is some more information and is really important you take care of employees by having these tools tested on a regular basis.
Repairs at CAS Assembly Tooling and Services
If you need any further information, have any queries or would like to arrange for your tools to be calibrated, let us know on 0121 327 1700.
Nov 22, 2022 | News, Tooling
The CAS Assembly Tooling and Services Head Office Repair Centre in Birmingham is able to support a key customer with over 14000 key engineers covering the UK repairing various essential tools.
🔧🔩Tools often get damaged and are used until they break and the CAS team are on hand to repair them when they do.
For this particular customer, engineers whom are on the road constantly, meet at a central point to drop off repairs, and they are then sent to us.
Thankfully we have experienced technicians on hand and ready to repair them quickly and efficiently.
Oct 18, 2022 | Crib Service and Support, News, Tooling
A recent crib project – CAS Assembly Tooling and Services
A recent crib project was that our client wanted to reinstate an assembly line for a future product. CAS Assembly Tooling and Services were going to be in their element here! We were asked to go and assess the project and produce a solution for the required work. We got the production line plans and looked at each station individually. Due to this being an already established site with lots of tooling already purchased for various other projects we started with what spare tools that could be utilised. At the same time we were keeping in mind the critical spare tools that are required for the everyday running of the site.
By doing this step first we were then able to look and what gaps we had to fill with new products, this also allowed our client to understand the budget required making their investment as cost effective as possible.
What challenges did we face?
We were faced with some challenges along the way with delivery schedules due to a global component shortage meaning dates would slip. With knowing this we worked with the customer to produce a plan allowing us to keep the project on track. We then waited until the new equipment and tools were delivered.
Time was a big influence for this project, and as we had many stations to furnish out, we created a station standard form for the installation of hardware. This detailed everything required in each station and what level of network was required. Understanding our client’s needs allowed us to make improvements to the already existing dedicated tooling network infrastructure in place. We utilised the previously abandoned network cabinet and added a link between production areas. This enabled a more fluid tooling network environment.
This was such a successful project that it was noticed across other departments, that we received some very nice feedback for a happy customer.
Another satisfied customer for CAS Assembly Tooling and Services and a pat on the back to Matthew Brooke and the Service and Support team for taking control of this project from beginning to end.
Tools being fixed at CAS HQ
Aug 17, 2022 | Makita Tooling, News, Tooling
Anti-kick devices at CAS
An Operator dropped a battery angled screwdriver recently at an engine manufacturer customer of ours after it ‘kicked’ during shut-off. As we provide Anti-kick devices at CAS, this was a prime opportunity for us to be able to solve a problem.
The customer asked CAS for potential countermeasure options, so we took in a similar tool with an anti-kick device fitted. We tightened earth straps at a high level due to possible future health and safety risks.
Line trials carried out by comparing this tool to what they previously used on the actual fixings.
Our contact, the Team Leader and his team were so impressed that we ended up demonstrating to the Section Manager, the H&S Manager and then the Shop Operations Manager.
It was then left with the customer to carry out further trials and was concluded as the countermeasure.
These are on order now and awaiting delivery with the solution rolled out across site and then shared to their sister sites.👌
The solution sold itself and is exactly what they needed to alleviate the issue being experiencing.😃
Call us on 0121 327 1700 or send us an email to info@cas-ltd.uk.com for more information and let us help with your tooling solutions.
Aug 12, 2022 | News, Power Flush Repairs and Servicing, Tooling
Power Flush Repairs and Servicing
Power Flush Repairs and Servicing has been something CAS Assembly Tooling and Services have been doing since September 2020. One of our service technicians was asked a question by a customer and he replied well we could easily repair the power flushes. That’s where the story started and we’ve been doing them ever since!
A happy customer at CAS Assembly Tooling and Services today 😃
We repaired and serviced these power flushes for an energy provider. These are used commercially and domestically to clear out heating systems.
Power Flush Repairs waiting to be collected and delivered back to the customer.
What might the problem be?
They had various issues from faulty motors to cracked moulded tanks, and faulty levers. All were diagnosed and repaired swiftly.
This morning they have been collected and more delivered for repair. Our Service Technician, Alan is ready for a busy Friday!
Glad to be able to assist with a tooling solution. For more information, take a look at our website page on Power Flush Repairs and Servicing here or give us a call on 0121 327 1700.
Jul 13, 2022 | News, Tooling
Damaged Alloy Wheels – A Solution.
The video here is footage of the wheels being secured to a vehicle in one of automotive facilities in the West Midlands.
It shows the operators fitting a bespoke wheel protection cassette to the loose fitted wheel nuts. This is prior to engaging the multi-spindle DC tooling power-head. This secures all nuts as a synchronised process.
The company identified a major issue with the cost of replacing or repairing damage to alloy wheels. This was being claimed by their dealer networks.
CAS Assembly Tooling and Services were approached to provide a solution to ensure that no damage was created at any point during the fitting and securing process. They believed that the operators were not being sufficiently careful when engaging the power-head with the wheels and causing damage to the alloy wheels. Once the wheel is secured to the vehicle the cassette is removed and used on the next wheel.
The experienced CAS engineers developed this design concept, produced a 3D CAD model, manufactured prototypes and proved the solution was viable.
The device acts as a slave adapter that fits between the wheel and the power tool and incorporates a shield to prevent the sockets coming into contact with the surfaces of the wheels.
We received a purchase order to deliver a production solution and it has been in place and operated for around four years now, saving the company tens of thousands of pounds every year.
Another solution we delivered to our customer which started life on the whiteboard of Jason Kane! Another one of CAS Tooling Solutions.
Here is the CAD drawing designed back in the day!
CAD Design – Jason Kane
