A pipe manufacturing company has been fined £200,000, plus £27,724 costs, for using vibrating tools without their staff receiving proper training.
It was also found through an HSE investigation that no sufficient risk assessment or health surveillance had been carried out.
Regular and frequent exposure to hand-arm vibration can lead to a range of conditions collectively known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), as well as specific diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome.
HSE inspector Joanne Carter said “This case shows there is no excuse for not putting in place a management system which includes risk assessment, control measures, health surveillance and information and training to reduce these risks to as low a level as is reasonably practicable.”
There is always the possibility of an accident or damage to someone’s health at work, regardless of the hazards, whether they are dangerous machinery, toxic substances, electricity, or even psychological hazards such as stress. Properly managing health and safety at work, and following health and safety guidance, is not only essential for the safety of staff, but is also a legal requirement. Thomson Ecology takes health and safety very seriously, and reports like this serve as a useful reminder for us to continue to keep health and safety at the forefront of everything we do.
The HSE website can provide health and safety guidance for all industries.
