10.11.2014
Inspectors found that 13 employees at the Gosport-based firm, who had worked at the site for between five and 45 years, were suffering with the condition.
Two members of staff were diagnosed at Stage 3 and were suffering with the most painful and severe symptoms of the condition.
Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court heard that the company had carried out a review of tools in 2007, concerning the vibration they caused, but decided no controls were required.
This led to some workers being exposed to vibration levels which may have exceeded legal limits.
Vector Aerospace International Ltd of Fleetlands, Fareham Road, Gosport, was fined a total of £50,000 and ordered to pay £2,514 in costs after admitting three charges under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.
HSE inspector Alec Ryan said that the company had the resources to protect workers from the effects of excessive vibrations, but failed to do so over a long period of time, which as a result led to 13 staff members suffering with symptoms of HAVS.
He added: “Employers have a duty to provide effective measures to ensure the health of their staff is not seriously or permanently harmed by the work they are asked to do.”
Vector Aerospace International Limited Failed To Protect Workers From Exposure To Excessive Vibrations
International aerospace company Vector Aerospace International Limited has been fined after a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into reports that staff were being diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).Inspectors found that 13 employees at the Gosport-based firm, who had worked at the site for between five and 45 years, were suffering with the condition.
Two members of staff were diagnosed at Stage 3 and were suffering with the most painful and severe symptoms of the condition.
Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court heard that the company had carried out a review of tools in 2007, concerning the vibration they caused, but decided no controls were required.
This led to some workers being exposed to vibration levels which may have exceeded legal limits.
Vector Aerospace International Ltd of Fleetlands, Fareham Road, Gosport, was fined a total of £50,000 and ordered to pay £2,514 in costs after admitting three charges under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005.
HSE inspector Alec Ryan said that the company had the resources to protect workers from the effects of excessive vibrations, but failed to do so over a long period of time, which as a result led to 13 staff members suffering with symptoms of HAVS.
He added: “Employers have a duty to provide effective measures to ensure the health of their staff is not seriously or permanently harmed by the work they are asked to do.”
Expert Opinion
In our work representing huge numbers of people who have suffered as a result of workplace illness we see first-hand the devastating impact lapses in health and safety measures can have on victims. <br/>“In this case workers have been left with long-term problems resulting from exposure to excessive vibrations as a result of their employer failing to properly consider and take action in relation to very serious risks posed to their staff. <br/> <br/>"It is absolutely imperative that cases of this nature are held up as an example of the serious problems workers can suffer when health and safety guidance is not followed in the workplace. Lessons must be learned from cases of this nature to ensure the same problems are not repeated."
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