Lancashire Council fined after Highways Team develop Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome

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Lancashire County Council has been fined £50,000 after several employees carrying out work in the highways department developed a debilitating nerve condition, Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), as a result of a failure to control vibration exposure. The Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) investigation found that there had been insufficient supervision and monitoring by the council to ensure that operatives accurately recorded their levels of vibration exposure. HAVS is caused by repeated and frequent use of hand-held vibrating tools, resulting in a painful and disabling disorder affecting the hand’s blood vessels, nerves, and joints. In the UK, nearly two million workers are at risk. Affected workers may experience pain, loss of grip strength and tingling and sensation loss in their fingers, with worsening chronic effects with continued exposure. Employers, meanwhile, run the risk of reputational damage, fines and compensation claims.