In a rare prosecution under the Control of Vibration at Work regulations, Rolls-Royce has been fined after an employee was diagnosed with a debilitating condition that left him with permanent nerve damage.
Derby Crown Court heard that the employee, Allan Thornewill, 55, developed bilateral carpal-tunnel syndrome after being exposed to high levels of vibration at the company’s foundry in Derby.
The court was told that he operated wet-blasting cabinets, used to clean turbine blades, for up to nine hours a day.
Required to hold the blades in his hands as they were blasted with water, Mr Thornewill was exposed to high levels of hand-arm vibration.
The employee, who joined Rolls-Royce in January 2009, was diagnosed with carpal-tunnel syndrome eight months later. Prior to this, he had developed pins and needles, numbness and pain, which he reported to his line manager and sought treatment from his GP.
The HSE’s investigation found that Rolls-Royce had failed to assess the vibration risks faced by workers using the wet-blasting cabinets. No suitable control measures were implemented, such as limiting exposure, or providing alternative measures.
Neither did Mr Thornewill receive any pre-employment screening nor was he included on the firm’s health-surveillance list.
Rolls-Royce plc pleaded guilty to breaching section 2(1) of the HSWA 1974 and regulation 5(1) of the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005. It was fined a total of £60,000 and ordered to pay £18,168 in prosecution costs.
Speaking after the hearing on 16 August, HSE inspector Noelle Walker said: “Proper heath surveillance is vital to detect and respond to early signs of damage. Rolls-Royce failed to take action to prevent damage caused by the vibrating wet blasters, failed to provide Mr Thornewill with health surveillance, and then failed to respond when he reported ill health.”
The company cooperated fully with the investigation and last year installed an automated system to replace the use of the wet-blasting cabinets.
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