Design and Supply, a Welsh-based manufacturing company, has received a £50,000 fine after a worker developed Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) after using hand-held vibration tools for over a decade.
As part of his duties, he was required to use handheld pneumatic buffing and sanding tools. A HSE investigation discovered that the company did not have risk assessments in place for working with power tools, or have safe processes which would have controlled employees’ exposure to vibration. They had also failed to provide the appropriate staff training, resulting in poor supervision and a lack of control measures.
Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), sometimes known as Vibration White Finger (VWF), is a secondary form of Raynaud’s syndrome caused by exposure to vibration at work.
Usually, a sporadic ‘pins and needles’ sensation in one or more fingers is common early on. Other symptoms of HAVS (and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) can include loss of strength in your hands, a tingling, numbness or loss of sensation in the fingers, and disturbed sleep.
HAVS is a serious condition and unfortunately, even though it is preventable, once someone develops HAVS it is usually too late to repair any damage that has been done.
Following the hearing, an HSE Inspector commented;
This was a case of the company completely failing to understand the importance of assessing the risk to their employees from exposure to vibration and therefore putting place the correct control measures. If they had understood why health surveillance was necessary, it would have ensured that it had the right systems in place to monitor worker’s health and the employee’s condition would have not been allowed to develop to a severe and life-altering stage.
Where there is a risk of exposing employees to hand-arm vibration, employers should be looking for alternative processes, equipment or working methods. Risk controls that employers should look to put into practice may include looking for alternative work methods to reduce exposure and limit the use of high-intensity vibration tools.
Employers should also ensure that they have a policy in place to replace old equipment and tools, and be certain that workstations are adequate to minimise the load on an employee’s hands, wrists and arms.
Further information regarding HAVS can be found on the HSE website.
