Engineering firm fined after workers suffer nerve damage 22 July 2014

SPS Aerostructures has been ordered to pay more than £190,000 in fines and costs for failing to protect its employees from the effects of vibration, after 24 workers were diagnosed with debilitating nerve conditions.

The Nottinghamshire aerospace engineering company was prosecuted by HSE (Health and Safety Executive) after the workers developed either HAVS (hand arm vibration syndrome) or carpal tunnel syndrome at its Annesley site.

An assessment of the company's tools took place in 2006, which identified drills, grinders and hammers as posing a high risk. However, they were not taken out of service and no controls were established until 2010.

In addition, some employees used their own tools, which were also not assessed. HSE found that, although SPS Aerostructures provided some health surveillance, it was not sufficient to identify symptoms early and refer individuals to occupational health.

SPS Aerostructures admitted two breaches of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

"SPS Aerostructures was, from 2005, regularly being made aware that employees were suffering from vibration-related symptoms," states HSE inspector Dawn Smith.

"They were being supplied with this information directly from staff and from their occupational health nurse. However, they chose to ignore this information and allowed employees to work unrestricted with high risk tools, or their own tools," she continues.

"The company was slow to implement improvements even after HSE's involvement and had to be issued with an improvement notice in 2011 to ensure compliance."

Smith makes the point that adequate assessment of the risk from vibration, provision of tools with lower vibration levels, and a good system of work would have ensured workers were not over-exposed to vibration.

Almost two million people in the UK work in conditions where they are at risk of developing vibration-related ill health, such as HAVS and carpal tunnel syndrome.

For more information on preventing the condition, click on the link below.

Brian Tinham

Related Websites
http://www.hse.gov.uk/vibration/hav/

Related Companies
Health & Safety Executive

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