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News & Knowledge » Powys Health Board given £160,000 health and safety fine after employees diagnosed with HAVS
Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) has been fined for ‘serious and systemic failures’, which resulted in employees being diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
The Welsh Health Board required its employees to routinely operate handheld power tools such as lawn mowers, strimmers, and hedge cutters without carrying out an assessment of the risks from exposure to vibration.
At least three workers have been diagnosed with HAVS from the use of the equipment.
There was no monitoring, or any estimate of exposure to vibration, even though employees operated handheld tools for several hours a day, in some cases several decades, without having the necessary measures in place to reduce the risk.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the Health Board failed to properly assess the levels of exposure to its employees and that information, instruction and training given to staff was limited.
The Health Board apologised to the workers and pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974; for failing to ensure health, safety and wellbeing measures of its employees in relation to the risks arising from the use of vibration tools.
Wrexham Magistrates’ Court was told that the Health Board had ‘fallen far below the appropriate standards’ after the HSE investigation found there were no assessments to identify the risks and control measures.
District Judge Gwyn Jones said that the original starting point was £1.1 million but he significantly reduced the fine after considering the detrimental effects this would have on the Health Board’s ability to provide ‘valuable service to the people of Powys’
They were fined £160,000 and ordered to pay the Court £5,599 on 22 November 2022.
Further reading
Vibration injuries – Oakwood Solicitors
Hand-arm vibration at work – HSE
WHAT TO DO NEXT
If you you have suffered as a result of excessive exposure to vibration, or have a diagnosed condition which you believe came about as a result of unacceptable working conditions – get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation.
Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you with your enquiry.
Rabina Khaleeq is a Paralegal in the Industrial Disease Department. Before joining the firm, Rabina worked at Direct Line Group for 8 years as a Claims Handler predominantly dealing with Road Traffic …
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