A Cornish company has been prosecuted after using unqualified staff to screen the health of workers from dozens of other organisations.
Over a period of four years, Audio Medical Services Ltd (AMS) carried out Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) tests inadequately for 59 companies across the UK. The company failed to provide employers with information to prevent workers' health deteriorating and did not refer employees to occupational health professionals when required.
The court heard that AMS staff, including Managing Director Nick Nickson, did not have occupational health training and had not received the relevant training to perform screening for HAVS.
The issue came to light following a company identifying anomalies with the screening performed by AMS. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) then contacted companies who employed the services of AMS and visited a range of firms in the ship-building, quarrying, civil engineering and rail industries.
The investigation identified that numerous employees at these companies had not been suitably referred to an occupational health provider and therefore continued to be exposed to vibration at work. This put individuals at risk of further deterioration and permanent damage.
HSE Inspector, Georgina Speake, said, "The failures of AMS were totally unacceptable. Companies using AMS thought they were doing the right thing by providing screening for their employees. AMS's negligent behaviour meant a significant number of workers have been put at risk of worsening their conditions by continuing with their normal work practices when they should have stopped. Around two million people are at risk of this painful and debilitating condition in the UK and although preventable, once the damage is done it is permanent, there simply is no treatment. Proper health surveillance is vital to detect and respond to early signs of damage."
Attacks of HAVS may cause pain, numbness and tingling as well as reduced manual dexterity and the effect may spread from the tips of the fingers up the digit, causing stiffness in the hand and arm. Sufferers may struggle with tasks requiring fine manipulation, including simple tasks like dressing, which can affect their family and social lives. In severe cases, blood circulation may be permanently impaired.
Audio Medical Services Ltd of Liskeard, Cornwall pleaded guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 of failing to ensuring the health and safety of people not in their employment. They were fined £3,200 and ordered to pay costs of £5,000. Nick Nickson pleaded guilty to the same offence and was fined £700.
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