Construction company Peter Duffy Ltd was sentenced today for safety breaches after multiple employees were diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).
Leeds Magistrates' Court heard that the company reported seven cases of HAVS between November 2016 and August 2018. All of the workers involved had been carrying out ground works involving vibrating tools, and many had been working in the industry for over 20 years.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that in 2016 the company contracted a new occupational health provider to replace their existing one. The diagnosis of the workers' conditions resulted from these changes and prior to the new company taking over, there was no suitable health surveillance in place to identify HAVS.
Peter Duffy Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay £3,919 in costs.
HSE inspector Chris Tilley, said: "The company should have undertaken a suitable and sufficient risk assessment to identify the level of vibration employees were exposed to throughout their working day and then put in place appropriate control measures".
"Furthermore, the company should have put in place suitable health surveillance to identify HAVS in their workforce".
