Occupational safety The Advanced Textiles Researcher Group at Nottingham Trent University are also addressing a glove-focused workplace issue, one caused by overexposure to hand-transmitted vibrations (HTV's). A 1983 study by the U.S. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimated that 1.2 million workers in the U.S. were affected. " Vibrating hand tools can cause vibration syndrome, a condition also known as vibration white finger and as Raynaud's phenomenon of occupational origin. Vibration syndrome has adverse circulatory and neural effects in the fingers; the signs and symptoms include numbness, pain, and blanching (turning pale and ashen), " the study reported. Research into the efficacy of antivibration gloves funded by NIOSH and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published in 2016 advised that antivibration gloves cannot be relied on to fully provide the wearer with a sufficient and consistent level of protection. The researchers at Nottingham Trent University are now developing vibration-sensing electronic yarns that can be used in the monitoring of hand-transmitted vibrations. The use of a sensing yarn allows for the tracking to take place closer to the entry point to the body (palm and index finger) without causing discomfort or interfering with the worker's ability to use the power tool correctly. The yarn is comprised of small-scale triaxial accelerometers soldered onto fine copper wires, then embedded in the core of the yarn. The yarn is given an outer fibrous covering that consolidates the structure and allows for further processing as well as providing for a positive tactile quality for wearer comfort. SAVE the DATE Join us at the Sheraton New Orleans in New Orleans, LA USA for the annual Marine Fabricators Conference from Jan. 26-28, 2023. IFAI.com/MarineConference www.SpecialtyFabricsReview.com 41http://www.covinsales.com http://www.IFAI.com/MarineConference http://www.SpecialtyFabricsReview.com