A fine of £100,000 on a company that exposed workers to hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) by failing to regulate their use of power tools should be a warning to all companies using power tools, not least stonemasonry companies, where HAVS is prevalent.

Yesterday (22 June) national bus and coach builder Alexander Dennis Ltd was fined after it ignored multiple warnings about dangers to its workers’ health from overuse of hand-held power tools.

For several years, the Edinburgh-based company persistently failed to heed expert advice, specialist reports and complaints from workers of pain, discomfort, numbness and whiteness in their fingers – symptoms typical of HAVS.

Sheffield Crown Court heard today that nine workers at Plaxton’s, an Alexander Dennis after sales, repair and refurbishment depot in North Anston, South Yorkshire, were diagnosed with HAVS in 2012. The nine are from the Sheffield, Rotherham, Chesterfield and Worksop areas.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found there was uncontrolled exposure to hand-arm transmitted vibration in the case of up to 25 staff in the Plaxton motor vehicle repair workshops in Ryston Road. There were no restrictions on the type of hand-held power tools employees used or the length of time they were allowed to operate them.

In addition, Alexander Dennis had no system to replace those tools that were old or worn out – one tool was 28 years old – and a lack of maintenance meant tools were not running at the optimum level to minimise vibration.

Workers were not provided with any information or instruction on how to minimise the risk from vibration and there was no health surveillance programme to check for early signs of HAVS among the workforce.

The court was told that hand arm transmitted vibration can cause a range of conditions collectively known as HAVS as well as specific diseases such as carpel tunnel syndrome and vibration white finger. HAVS is a permanent condition that can affect a person’s ability to work. Workers can suffer numbness and blanching of fingers, pins and needles, stabbing pains and can lead to severely reduced grip and dexterity in the hands.

Since HSE’s intervention, the company has taken action to assess the risk to their employees, provide better quality tools that are regularly maintained, train employees on how to protect themselves and provide regular health checks to pick up early signs of the disease.

Alexander Dennis Ltd, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, trading as Plaxton of North Anston, Sheffield, was fined £100,000 and ordered to pay £18,643 in costs after admitting breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The judge (His Honour Judge Gargan) described the company’s failings as inexplicable and highly culpable in their failure to follow the advice and the warnings given.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Christine Mellor, said: “Alexander Dennis continually ignored their employees’ symptoms, which showed they were suffering from the effects of vibration caused by the extensive use of a variety of hand-held power tools – sanders, drills, grinders, etc. It failed to heed recommendations from consultants they had engaged to assist in managing the health risks to employees, including the advice from occupational health professionals.

“At the same time, the company was fully aware that successful civil claims had been brought by employees. Despite all this, Alexander Dennis continued to expose employees to an uncontrolled risk.

“The risks associated with the use of hand-held power tools and of developing HAVS and carpel tunnel syndrome are well recognised in the industry. There has been written guidance from HSE since 1994 and specific regulations setting out the duties of employers since 2005.

“There can be no excuse for the company’s reckless disregard for their employees’ health. HAVS is a serious, permanent condition which frequently has lifelong consequences.”

Guidance on HAVS can be found on the HSE website here.