Powys teaching health board was fined after three employees were diagnosed with hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS).
Employees at Powy teaching health board routinely operate hand-held power tools without assessing the risks from vibration exposure.
The handheld tools are lawnmowers, strimmers, and hedge cutters.
There was no monitoring and no estimate of the exposure to vibration while the workers operated the tools for several hours.
Health and safety executive investigation.
The health and safety executives found out that the Powys teaching health board failed to assess the level of exposure of the risk to workers and equally provided limited information, instruction and training to their staff. It ignored requests from its occupational health department to conduct a risk assessment.
HSE inspector Joe Boast said: “This was a case of the health board failing to grasp the importance of managing its staff’s exposure to vibration while using hand-held power tools.
The Fine for the hand arm vibration syndrome case
On 22 November 2022, at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court, The Powys Teaching Health Board of Glasbury House, Bronllys Hospital, Bronllys, Powys, Wales, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
They were fined £160,000 and ordered to pay costs of £5,599.
Read also:
- A logistics company has been fined after a worker’s asbestos exposure
- What is the context of the organisation according to the ISO management system?
- TRIR calculation: How to calculate the total recordable incident rate
- £115000 fine after hand amputated by a machine
- What is the difference between ISO 45001 and OHSAS 18001?
- 8 reasons why you need a security education and awareness in this period
- Things you need to know about the federal road safety corps (FRSC) of Nigeria
- Egypt petroleum show (Egypt) 2023
- Company fined after skylight fall puts the worker in a six-week coma
- 8 reasons why you need a security education and awareness in this period
- A chemical company has been fined after releasing a cloud of toxic chlorine gas in the factory
Onyeka Emma is a QHSE Professional with more than 10 years of experience in occupational health and safety, which spans many industries such as construction, beverage, oil and gas, etc. He has many health and safety certifications, including NEBOSH IGC, ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 Lead auditor certificate. A member of IOSH, ISPON, and Nigeria Red Cross Society. He is interested in business, entrepreneurship, Speaking, and motivating people to do better for themselves. He enjoys leisure with a good motivational book.
