A manufacturing company in Somerset has been fined £16,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,490 with a £250 victim surcharge, for exposing workers to excessive vibrations from the tools they were using.

Somerset Magistrates’ Court heard how employees at LJH Group Ltd were identified as being at increased risk from working with vibrating tools following a fitness for work assessment.

An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found that the company had failed to complete a suitable and sufficient assessment of risk from the use of vibrating tools and had failed to implement a suitable programme of health surveillance for their employees identified at risk.

LJH Group Ltd of Leigh Road, Frome, Somerset, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

For further information on Hand Arm Vibration visit: www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/advicetoemployers/responsibilities.htm