A North Wales furniture manufacturing company has been fined after failing to ensure that employee's exposure to the risks from vibrating tools was sufficiently risk assessed and managed.
Mold Magistrates' Court heard that Westbridge Furniture Designs Limited did not have:
They also failed to assess or take any action, following a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome for two employees.
Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in January 2020, it was discovered that, despite a HSE intervention in 2016, the company failed to properly assess the levels of exposure to their employees.
This resulted in at least two employees being expected to carry out their normal duties, even though they had been diagnosed with carpel tunnel syndrome. One of the employees had suffered permanent nerve damage and is no longer able to work.
Westbridge Furniture Designs Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, was fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £14,033.50.
HSE inspector Sarah Baldwin-Jones, said: "This was a case of the company completely failing to grasp the importance of managing their employee’s exposure to vibration, whilst using hand-held tools".
"Employers should conduct a full assessment of the vibration magnitude and exposure duration, before reviewing whether employees are at risk. There is a simple online calculator to help them complete this process. Had this company followed the free guidance, they would not have exposed many employees to risk and possibly have prevented the ill health that has been suffered".
