Worker handed £10,000 for HAVS

Sasha Wood | News | HSP
17.11.2008

A concrete products worker who developed hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) has secured £10,000 in an out-of-court settlement with his employer, Tarmac subsidiary Charcon Tunnels.

Frederick Roebuck was required to use a vibrating poker in his work to mould and compact segments of concrete tunnel for up to five hours a day, five days a week. In 2005 he began to feel pain in his hands.

"My fingers started going white and when I was pokering they would cramp up and go numb," said Roebuck, "I would have to stop what I was doing and shake my hands to get the circulation back into them." A doctor later diagnosed him with HAVS (also known as vibration white finger).

After consulting his trade union GMB, Roebuck decided to claim compensation from Charcon on the basis they had failed in their duty to protect him from vibration risks.

Under the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005, employers must assess and control the risks to their employees arising from exposure to vibration at work.

Charcon, based in Ashford, admitted liability and offered Roebuck £10,000 compensation in an out-of-court settlement.

Roebuck has continued to work for the company but no longer uses vibrating tools.