Lancashire County Council fined over Hand Arm Vibration issuesLancashire County Council fined over Hand Arm Vibration issuesLancashire County Council fined over Hand Arm Vibration issuesLancashire County Council fined over Hand Arm Vibration issues
  • Home
  • About us
    • Who is CQMS
    • Testimonials
    • Accreditation, Certification & Memberships
    • News & Legislation
      • Recent Prosecutions
      • News Articles
      • Legislation
      • Corporate Manslaughter
    • Privacy Notice
    • FAQs
  • Consultancy
  • Safety-Scheme
  • Contact us
  • Home
  • About us
    • Who is CQMS
    • Testimonials
    • Accreditation, Certification & Memberships
    • News & Legislation
    • Privacy Notice
    • FAQs
  • Consultancy
  • Safety-Scheme
  • Contact us
✕

Lancashire County Council fined over Hand Arm Vibration issues

Lancashire County Council has been fined after several employees carrying out work in the highways department developed a debilitating nerve condition as a result of failure to control exposure to vibration.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard that, in February 2019, HSE received a RIDDOR report from Lancashire County Council, relating to the diagnosis of a case of Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVs). An improvement notice was served to the council in July 2019 requiring the council to improve their control of HAVs. However, subsequent to this, a further ten cases of vibration- related ill-health, unrelated to the RIDDOR report, were uncovered and reported late. Four more reports were also filed, but these were on time.

Regular use of vibrating tools causes the painful and disabling disorder which, in this case, has left the employees with nerve damage to the hands and arms, making everyday tasks and leisure activities difficult or impossible.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that there had been insufficient supervision and monitoring by the council to ensure that operatives accurately recorded their levels of exposure to vibration.

Furthermore, health surveillance records had not been acted upon promptly to reduce or stop exposure levels when symptoms were reported. In addition to this, risk assessments were not adequate for controlling the amount of exposure of operatives, and practices had not been implemented to prevent overexposure. Had these measures been in place the total of fifteen reported HAVs incidences of ill-health could have been prevented. It was also found that the council had failed to send reports of the various diagnoses to HSE without delay as required under the RIDDOR regulations.

Lancashire County Council of County Hall, Fishergate, Preston pleaded guilty to breaches of Section 2 (1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and Regulation 8 of the RIDDOR Regulations 2013. The Council was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,366,78.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Jennifer French, said: “HAVs can be a serious and sometimes disabling condition that is irreversible.

“All employers have a duty to provide effective measures to ensure the health of their staff are not seriously or permanently harmed by the work they are asked to do. HSE is committed to thoroughly investigating companies who do not comply with their duties and will prosecute if necessary.”

Source HSE Website 05 May 2022.

Share

Related posts

28th June 2022

Warehouse owner fined after worker falls 30 feet through skylight


Read more
28th June 2022

Demolition company fined after fall from height fatality


Read more
28th June 2022

Company and director fined after worker sustained life-changing injuries


Read more

Get in touch

CQMS Limited
The Annexe, The Maltings, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6BH
Tel: 01476 566665
Email: enquiries@cqms-ltd.com

Connect with us on social media

CQMS Safety-Scheme is a UKAS-accredited Type C Inspection Body under ISO 17020:2012 for the provision of health and safety assessment services’
CQMS Safety-Scheme - UKAS-accredited Type C Inspection Body under ISO 17020:2012

Search our site

✕

External Links

H&S Executive Website
Incident Contact Centre
The British Safety Council
RoSPA

© 2017 - 2022 CQMS Limited | All rights reserved | Site built & hosted by GIGER MEDIA | Content managed by CQMS