Vibration legislation prevents A COP out

A commercial vehicle driver from Sheffield has received around £47,000 in an out of court settlement from his former employers Onyx UK, of Beighton, Yorkshire, as a result of losses from having to use a vehicle with a defective seat. His permanent disability followed on from an initial back injury while driving his vehicle over a rough surface, and a subsequent period during which he was required to drive the vehicle with a faulty seat, despite the fact the matter was brought to the attention of his employer. The company have since admitted liability.

The company's actions breach the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations SI 2005/1093, which are designed to protect against the risks from hand-arm vibration and whole-body vibration. In conjunction with this, ACOP L141 on whole-body vibration has recently been published, which offers specific guidance on such exposure which can cause back pain and the particular risks where any commercial, industrial or construction vehicles are driven regularly for most of the day and vibration is transmitted through the seat or feet.