Council ordered to pay £35k after 29 park employees develop hand injuries

A council in the North West has been ordered to pay almost £35,000 in fines and costs after 29 employees were diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration syndrome.

All the staff affected were employed in the parks and leisure department at Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that the employees developed the condition between July 2005 and December 2009.

According to the HSE, Hand Arm Vibration syndrome leads to poor grip, numbness, tingling and acute sensitivity to cold resulting in pain.

“Once the condition has developed, reducing or eliminating exposure to vibrating tools will prevent it from getting worse, but the damage is largely irreversible,” it said.

The condition was caused primarily by the workers using vibrating equipment such as strimmers while cutting grass, hedges and trees.

The HSE’s investigation concluded that Wirral had not properly assessed the risks staff faced when using such equipment, nor had it implemented suitable control measures, such as limiting exposure to the tools or providing alternatives.

The council pleaded guilty to two breaches of the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. It was fined £25,000 and ordered to pay £9,417 in costs.

Christina Goddard, the investigating inspector for HSE, said: “Wirral Council failed to take action to prevent damage caused by vibrating tools, with the result that 29 workers now suffer from a debilitating condition.

"The council should have limited the amount of time workers spent using vibrating equipment or provided alternative tools. If appropriate action had been taken then the workers' condition could have been prevented."