NEWSFLASH
AIR TOOLS LEAVING INDUSTRY OPEN TO HAND ARM VIBRATION DAMAGES CLAIMS, SAYS TRESCAL
Trescal has issued a warning that badly maintained air tools, which cause hand-arm vibration, are leaving the industry to walk a legal tightrope.
The warning, has been issued by Trescal, in response to increased concerns that British industry is failing to take the air tool vibration threat seriously.
John Buckley, UK Air Tooling Programme Manager for Trescal, says that the litigation threat is very real. He added: “I know of major companies with multiple damages cases currently running that could
BSC ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2016 INTERNATIONAL
SAFETY AWARD The British Safety Council has announced the winners of its 2016 International Safety Awards.
This year, 436 organisations won an International Safety Award, including businesses from the UK, Africa, Asia, mainland Europe and the Middle East. 30 organisations were awarded a distinction, 241 a merit and 165 organisations achieved a pass.
Congratulating the winners, Mike Robinson, Chief Executive of the British Safety Council, said: “2016 marks the 58th year of the International Safety Awards, which celebrate and reward organisations from around the world that have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the scheme’s independent judges a commitment to preventing their staff being injured or made ill at work.
“The British Safety Council’s vision is that no one should be injured or made ill at work – anywhere in the world; and the International Safety Awards shine a light on those businesses who are
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taking sensible and effective steps to protect the health, safety and welfare of their workers and others who could be harmed by their work activities.
“By celebrating and sharing the achievements of the winners of the International Safety Awards, we can encourage and inspire other businesses everywhere to follow their lead and give workers’ health and safety the priority it rightly deserves.
“Our warmest congratulations to all the winners.”
The winners are drawn from a diverse background, and include construction, housebuilding, civil and rail engineering companies such as Brookfield Multiplex, Lovell, McNicholas and VolkerRail; engineering and manufacturing
businesses such as BAE Systems and JCB; and transport, distribution and logistics companies such as Addison Lee, Associated British Ports, Glasgow Airport and Kenya Airways. The charity and leisure sectors are also well represented with winners such as the YHA and the Rugby Football Union’s Twickenham Stadium.
International winners include Alişan Logistics of Turkey, Bahrain National Gas Company, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, Delhi International Airport, GAIL (India), Indian Oil Corporation and Larsen & Toubro.
The International Safety Awards Gala Dinner, scheduled for May, will celebrate the winner’s achievements.
www.britsafe.org www.tomorrowshs.com
easily result in significant pay-outs, upwards of £30,000, for the employees concerned.”
John explained that a lack of understanding about air tool vibration issues and the need for maintenance, calibration and HAV testing is acute across all levels of industry. He continued: “The problem goes from the largest to the smallest engineering companies. Industry has to realise that it has a duty of care towards air tool users and that if the Health and Safety Executive conduct an audit, which finds that there is no record of air tool testing, then it is likely a prosecution will follow.”
The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 introduced limits values for hand-arm and whole- body vibration. The regulations introduced exposure limits which will require employers to put in place
organisational measures to protect the health and safety of their employees. In 2014, there were 610 new claims by employees for damages relating to hand arm vibration or white finger.
John explained that the problem in the industry is that firms do not realise air tools need servicing, testing and calibrating. He added: “Air tools, such as nut runners, engravers and hammer drills, may not be identified as sophisticated pieces of equipment, but they do need servicing, HAV testing and in many cases calibrating. If the shaft of an air tool is bent, the bearings haven’t been cleaned or there is condensation in the airline - which can lead to rust build-up in the tool – there is a potential for increased vibration exposure and therefore a risk of physical damage to employees.”
www.trescal.com
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