A leading Scottish technology firm has celebrated a major landmark after recording £1 million worth of sales of its safety devices to UK hire companies.

Edinburgh-based Reactec has seen a dramatic increase in the number of sales for its innovative HAVmeters over the past 12 months, as more hire companies have identified the devices as industry-standard safety equipment.

Ahead of its participation in the Executive Hire Show – one of the biggest expos for hire service companies in the UK – Reactec revealed that more than £1 million worth of HAVmeters are now available through firms that hire tools and equipment out to the construction industry.

And the firm is hoping to see sales increase further throughout 2011, as hire companies continue to purchase the technology and promote it as the leading safety device of choice to reduce exposure to Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) across the UK.

Jim O’Hagan, managing director of Reactec, said: “There is no better device than the HAVmeter to monitor vibration levels and cut exposure to HAVS in the construction industry.

“It’s a tool that is fast becoming the industry standard for monitoring hand arm vibration levels, and the companies that use the meters are being rightly seen as the pioneers of health and safety in their fields.

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“However, what is particularly pleasing to see now is that many of the country’s hire companies are also viewing our technology as the best way to monitor exposure to vibration and prevent injury. In the past year or so, we have seen a huge switch towards the HAVmeters from these firms, and more hire companies are now starting to offer them as the primary safety device for preventing HAVS.

“The fact that we now have more than £1 million worth of HAVmeters being offered by hire companies throughout the UK is a remarkable landmark. We’re now looking to build on this success and see that figure rise further throughout the next 12 months.”

The HAVmeter is a small, easy to use device that is used to monitor exposure to Hand Arm Vibration among workers using hand-held tools. The technology measures and records the trigger time and vibration levels and ensures machinery operators do not exceed the recommended levels stipulated by the Health & Safety Executive.

By using the HAVmeter technology, workers are able to minimise exposure to hand arm vibration syndrome – one of the biggest risks associated with using hand held vibrating power tools. More commonly known as Vibration White Finger, the disease affects the functionality of blood vessels resulting in symptoms such as numbness or tingling of the fingers, loss of strength in the hands and the cold whitening of the fingertips.

The symptoms worsen over time, often becoming permanent. If no action is taken to prevent further vibration exposure, sufferers can experience severe pain, resulting in an inability to work in cold or damp conditions or even carry out simple everyday tasks, such as holding a glass.

HAVmeters are currently provided by some of the UK’s biggest hire firms, including Ashtead Plant Hire Ltd, Brandon Hire Ltd, Speedy Hire and the GAP Group.

Asif Latief, Marketing Director at Ashtead Plant Hire Company Ltd, said: “We at A-Plant hold the safety of the UK workforce as paramount importance and recognise that the HAVmeter as the front runner in reducing and eliminating Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome.

“After extensive investigations into the HAVS monitoring market, we are confident that the HAVmeter provides the greatest cost, operational and health benefits to both employer and employee.”

Reactec is the UK leader in providing vibration analysis and validation for the design stage of new and next-generation technology products, and offers a range of services from expert consultancy to full project implementation.

(GK)