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Bad vibes as £280k fine served for health and safety breach
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is a painful and debilitating illness, caused by hand-held power tools. The syndrome can be easily prevented, but some firms still don’t implement the correct procedures, resulting in employee illness and expensive claims.
In April 2016, Sandvik Mining and Construction Limited and Sandvik Construction Mobile Crushers and Screeners Limited were fined for safety breaches that led to reported cases of employees suffering with HAVS.
The Health and Safety Executive investigated both companies’ activities and found that over extended periods of time, they had not managed the risk of employees’ exposure to vibration. Not only had they failed to make reasonable estimates of employees’ exposure, they also did not carry out adequate risk assessments.
Both companies pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, paying fines and costs. Sandvik Construction Mobile Crushers and Screeners Limited was fined £280,000.
A question to all risk managers…
Want to read our advice on Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome?
For advice on how to minimise risk to employees whose jobs involve hand-held power tools and hand-guided equipment, click here.
Sources:
theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/sandvik-fined-280k-for-hand-arm-vibration-failings
press.hse.gov.uk/2016/pipe-manufacturing-company-fined-for-safety-failings/
press.hse.gov.uk/2016/two-firms-fined-for-safety-breaches/
Published date: 2nd September 2016
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