Wrexham County Borough Council has been fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of nearly £11,000 after one of its workers was diagnosed with Vibration White Finger.
Wrexham Magistrates’ Court heard how a 57-year old man who was employed in the council’s ‘StreetScene’ department had been diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome, also commonly known as Vibration White Finger, back in September 2015.
When the Health and Safety Executive investigated the situation, it found that the council had failed to address the issue of HAVS after an audit in February 2011 that had identified a failure to assess the risk of vibration to employees. Upon further investigation it was discovered that the council had developed a range of policies to tackle the risk of HAVS dating back to 2004, but it had failed to implement any of these.
Speaking after the hearing HSE Inspector Mhairi Duffy said: “This employee now suffers from a long-term, life changing illness. The council should have implemented the policy they devised following the audit in 2011. Workers’ health should not be made worse by the work they do; all employees have the right to go home healthy at the end of the working day.”
Following the council’s adoption of health surveillance for users of vibrating tools, a further 11 cases of HAVS or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome have been diagnosed among employees.
Vibration is a common cause of injury within a range of workplaces. In the last ten years over 10,000 claims for compensation have been made following injuries sustained through the frequent or prolonged use of vibrating equipment in the workplace. Employers have a duty to ensure that workers are provided with a safe working environment and safe working practices so that the risk of injury or illness is minimised.
If you or someone you care for has been injured as a result of using vibrating equipment in the workplace, it is quite likely that you could make a claim for compensation. Our solicitors have years of experience in handling these types of claims and will swiftly be able to advise you as to the best way forward. Contact us today for a free, no obligations discussion about your case, and let us see how we can help you get the payout you deserve.
