CROSS-CUTS The mystery of the white finger

Boart Canada’s Rockdrill division is funding research into the phenomenon known as “white finger disease” with specific reference to the use of drilling equipment. The $24,000 research project will be conducted by Dr Debra Bakker of Laurentian University’s school of nursing and Dr Lloyd Reed of the Sudbury university’s physics department, in conjunction with the Centre in Mining and Mineral Exploration Research. The government of Ontario is matching Boart’s contribution. Dr Bakker says white finger disease is prevalent among miners, forestry workers, quarry workers and other occupations where vibrating equipment is widely used. The ailment is characterized by a blanching, tingling and numbing of the fingers caused by vibrating tools.

“It can be quite debilitating even during a worker’s leisure hours and especially in cold temperatures,” says Dr Bakker.

Research into white finger disease is being conducted at a number of Canadian centres.