Programme
- Note:
-
All sessions (except where indicated) are delivered by Dr Roger Cooke, consultant in occupational medicine, and a leading expert in hand–arm vibration syndrome
- Day one:
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Friday 7 November 2025 – Remote Learning
- 9.00
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Registration
- 9.05
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Overview of course
- 9.10
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Introduction to vibration and HAVS
- Includes principles of vibration, including measurement, history, epidemiology, concepts of dose-response relationships.
- Principles of control
- Exposures and their measurement and reporting
- Types of tools and ergonomics
- Overview of health surveillance
- 10.00
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Legal framework & statutory requirements
- Legislation and regulations, including the Control of Vibration at work regulations 2005
- All relevant international and British standards
- Risk assessment
- Exposure action and limit values
- Risk control
- Information and training of workers
- Health surveillance
- Recent prosecution cases
- Common law aspects
- 11.10
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Coffee break
- 11.25
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Aetiology and Pathology
- Summary of concepts of pathological basis of each component of HAVS and CTS
- Aetiology: Exposure-response relationship and latency
- Pathophysiology: Vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal components. Skeletal system. Evidence of reversibility, progress and prognosis
- 12.40
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Lunch
- 13.25
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Clinical assessment (part 1 – vascular)
- Raynaud’s phenomenon and the vascular component of HAVS
- Health effects
- Differential diagnosis
- Classification
- Clinical assessment
- How to synthesis the information obtained to reach an overall classification
- 14.25
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Clinical assessment (part 2 – sensorineural and carpal tunnel syndrome)
Dr Susannah Gillibrand
- Health effects
- Differential diagnosis
- Classification
- Clinical assessment
- How to synthesis the information obtained to reach an overall classification
- Other neurological differential diagnoses
- 15.25
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Tea break
- 15.40
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Clinical assessment (part 3 – musculoskeletal and other conditions)
- Musculoskeletal symptoms, cramp, grip strength, Dupuytren’s and other conditions
- Health effects
- Differential diagnosis
- Classification
- Clinical assessment
- How to synthesis the information obtained to reach an overall classification
- 16.25
-
Working in a team to carry out assessments
- Setting up the programme and establishing roles and responsibilities in a health surveillance programme
- Technician support
- 16.50
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Questions and discussion
- 17.00
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Close of day one
- Day two:
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Tuesday 11 November 2025 (Birmingham) – Face to face learning
- 9.00
-
Registration and coffee
- 9.10
-
Welcome and discussion of issues arising from Day 1
- 9.25
-
Principles of health surveillance
Andrew Cooke
- HSE tiered approach
-
- Tiers 1-5
- Professional and legal requirements
- 9.55
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OH management of cases
- Advice to employees and employers
- Prognosis and reversibility
- Measures to reduce ongoing vibration exposure
- General advice on reducing the impact of the condition
- Guidance on deployment action at Stage 2 and Stage 3
- Fitness for work, functional assessment, safety issues
- Legal issues including Equality Act, RIDDOR and other medicolegal and regulatory considerations
- 10.35
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Coffee break
- 10.50
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Clinical assessment
- Assessing sensation, including monofilaments, two point discrimination, Pegboard
- Assessment of vascular status
- Other relevant tests including Allen’s, Phalen’s, Tinel’s, Adson’s, Roo’s
- 11.15
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End of session questions
- 11.30
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Case studies
- 12.30
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Lunch
- 13.15
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Group work – clinical testing in practice
- 14.45
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Tea
- 15.00
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Questions, discussions and revisions
- 15.45
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Faculty examination
- 17.15
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Close of course
Benefits of attending
This training for OH professionals examines the requirements for health surveillance for a workforce exposed to hand-transmitted vibration, and the diagnosis and management of an individual with HAVS. It will provide an in-depth understanding of HAVS, and of the OH role in managing issues related to hand transmitted vibration in the workplace.
Since January 2022, The At Work Partnership has trained over 250 delegates for the FOM Certificate in Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome examination. Pass rates vary between cohorts, but can be as high as 100% for doctors and 95% for nurses.
About our expert tutors
Dr Roger Cooke
Roger is a consultant in occupational medicine, His experience and interest in vibration-related disease extends over 40 years, including clinical practice, teaching, advising industry and specialist groups, writing on the subject and acting as expert witness in legal proceedings. He is the author of the book, Hand–arm vibration syndrome: a guide for occupational health practitioners, published by The At Work Partnership in 2020.
Three other expert tutors play an important role in the teaching on this course:
Andrew Cooke
Andrew has occupational health experience in a wide range of commercial environments and is currently clinical director at Clarity Healthcare.
Dr Susanna Gillibrand
Susanna is an independent consultant occupational physician and works with a range of companies mainly in Hampshire. She has a particular interest in Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Dr Bernard Yew
Bernard is the medical director for PAM Group, an occupational health consultancy. He is an accredited specialist in occupational medicine.
Who should attend?
This training is designed for OH nurses and doctors. Previous experience of HAVS is not essential, but experience in OH is required. Please note that this is an intense course. It is possible to attend the course without taking the examination. Please email us on conferences@atworkpartnership.co.uk, if you would like further detail.
What qualifications are needed to take the examination?
In order to take the exam: The FOM requires doctors or nurses to hold the appropriate UK registration with the GMC or NMC and will need to approve qualifications from overseas candidates.
Further guidance regarding undertaking Tier 3 assessments without supervision
Once you have completed the course and passed the exam, and hold the appropriate registration above, you also need a higher OH qualification to meet HSE requirements. Doctors should hold a diploma in occupational medicine as a minimum. Other OH staff should have a higher qualification in occupational health, e.g. diploma* or degree.
*Please note that we are awaiting confirmation from the FOM of whether the new FOM Diploma in Occupational Health Practice is approved for this purpose. Until this is resolved, if this is the only OH qualification held, you will currently require supervision to carry out Tier 3 assessments.
The HSE regulations also state that some specific tasks can be devolved to a technician but the suitably qualified OH practitioner must retain overall responsibility for the work of the OH Technicians.
Extract from HSE Guidance on assessments
Pre-course reading and printed documentation
All delegates will receive detailed printed documentation for future reference plus details of pre-course reading.
Examination and certification
Revision
This is an intensive two-day course. Therefore, please allow sufficient time between the first and second day of the course to revise and consolidate your learning – using your documentation pack, the pre-course reading and your notes. You are not allowed to refer to any materials during the exam.
Examination
A formal examination, set by the FOM, takes place at the end of the course. Attendance at all sessions is regarded as a pre-requisite to sitting the examination, as the examination is based on content taught in the course. Those doctors and nurses who successfully complete the examination will receive a Certificate of Competence accredited by the Faculty of Occupational Medicine.
The majority of the exam is a mixture of true/false questions and multiple choice questions (approx. 30 questions per paper).
For nurses – there is a 30 minute exam (one paper only)
For doctors – there is a 60 minute exam (two papers)
Reasonable adjustments
Written evidence to support any request for a reasonable adjustment will be sent to the FOM for approval. We highly advise you to submit any requests as soon as possible to ensure that approval will be received in time for the course.
