Two construction firms based in Derbyshire have been fined for safety breaches due to reported cases of employees suffering carpel tunnel syndrome and hand arm vibration syndrome.

Both Sandvik Construction Mobile Crushers and Screeners Ltd and Sandvik Mining and Construction Limited pleaded guilty to Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

Sandvik Construction was fined £280,000 with £8,246 in costs, while Sandvik Mining was fined £12,000 and the same amount in costs.


Derby Crown Court heard employees of both firms were regularly exposed to hand arm vibration through the use of a range of vibratory tools in the assembly and servicing of crushers and screeners.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation was conducted into the activities of Sandvik Mining, between July 2005 and March 2014, and Sandvik Construction, between 2007 and February 2013.

The probe found the firms had failed to adequately manage the risk to employees from exposure to vibration including failing to carry out suitable and sufficient assessments for the risk from vibration, and had not made reasonable estimates of employee's exposure.

HSE inspector Edward Walker said: "There is a well-known health risk associated with exposure to hand arm vibration and it is important that measures are put in place to manage the risk. Exposure to hand arm vibration can cause debilitating affects which could have been avoided."

(LM/MH)