HAVS forces 25-year-old out of job

Jocelyn Dorrell | News | HSP
06.10.2008

Norfolk County Council has paid former roadworker Adrian Bideau £262,000 in compensation after he developed hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and was forced to leave his job at the age of 25.

Bideau, now 28, said he has been unable to work since October 2003 after being diagnosed with both HAVS and carpal tunnel syndrome as a result of using vibrating tools such as breaker packs and saws.

Greg Grant of public sector union UNISON, which represented Bideau, said Norfolk council operated a bonus scheme which "encouraged staff to work more hazardously".

Bideau had surgery on both his wrists but was unable to return to his job and was retired on ill-health grounds in April 2005.

Samantha Vallis of Thompson Solicitors - who brought the case for UNISON - said the council's bonus scheme encouraged staff to work "long and excessive hours" because "the more work they did, the more money they earned".

"They have now introduced a system whereby exposure to vibratory tools is monitored and controlled and the bonus scheme has been scrapped," she added. "Had this been the case when Mr Bideau was working on the tools, he would still be in a job he loved today."