A Lancashire engineering company has been fined after a 29-year-old worker was diagnosed with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) through health surveillance after he was exposed regularly to vibration from hand tools used to sand components.
Health surveillance was implemented at the company in 2014 and showed that the employee had developed HAVS through exposure to vibration while working at the company.
The HSE’s investigation found that the company risk assessments relating to vibration were not suitable or sufficient. It also found that health surveillance was not introduced by the company until 2014, despite regulations making this a legal requirement since 2005.
Training for employees on the risks from vibration was also found to be inadequate and many were unaware of the consequences of exposure to high levels of vibration.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, and was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,171.00 at Greater Manchester Magistrates’ Court.
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By Mark Worsnop, Safety Advisor
