A social housing provider has been fined £140,000 following a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after exposing two employees to serious health risks from vibrating tools.
Stonewater Limited employed two men as estate assistants working across various sites near Tanyard Farm in Coventry.
Over a five-year period, their roles included ground maintenance activities such as grass cutting, hedge trimming, litter picking and weeding. Both men used vibrating equipment like lawn mowers, leaf blowers, strimmers and hedge cutters extensively, one of them estimated this equipment accounted for around 90% of his working day.
Prolonged and regular exposure to vibration can lead to Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), a painful and disabling condition affecting the nerves, blood supply, joints and muscles in the hands and arms.
As highlighted in our article, Workplace Vibration Risks: What Employers Need to Know, it’s estimated that over two million people in the UK are at risk from HAVS, yet the condition is entirely preventable with the right precautions.
A HSE investigation found that Stonewater Limited had failed to:
- Carry out a risk assessment for vibration exposure
- Regularly and accurately monitor vibration exposure to reduce the risks as far as practicable
- Provide information, instruction or training to employees on vibration risks
- Implement a suitable system of health surveillance
Stonewater Limited of Enderby Road, Whetstone, Leicester, was fined £140,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,742 at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.
Lead HSE inspector Charlie Rowe said: “This is a tragic case and the fine imposed on Stonewater Limited underlines that the courts, and HSE, take a failure to follow health and safety regulations extremely seriously.
HAVS is a serious and disabling health condition and we will not hesitate to take action against employers that fall below the required standard.”
Employers have a duty to protect workers from known hazards like vibration. Understanding the risks, implementing effective control measures and providing ongoing training and health monitoring are all vital steps in safeguarding employee wellbeing.
For further information on the health and safety services provided by Thomas Carroll, please contact us on 02920 853731 or email tcms@thomas-carroll.co.uk.
