Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Employment lawLatest NewsHealth and safetyWellbeingOccupational Health

Plant operatives top hand-arm vibration syndrome risk list

by Personnel Today 5 Jun 2013
by Personnel Today 5 Jun 2013

Nearly 659,000 British construction workers could be at risk of developing hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS), according to new estimates.








Box 1: Occupations most at risk of HAVS


Plant operatives: 42,210 people

Plant mechanics: 40,280

Steel erectors/structural: 28,640

Civil engineering operatives: 63,020

Wood trade/interior fitters; 262,020

Floorers: 39,260

Electric trades and installation: 183,440

Total: 658,870

Source: Construction Skills Network


The figures from the Construction Skills Network, which ­provides market intelligence on the ­industry, have been analysed by ­vibration management specialist Reactec. It has broken down the figures into the specific occupations that it ­considers are most at risk from HAVS because of their use of vibration equipment.

The Medical Research Council has estimated that around 300,000 employees have advanced symptoms of HAVS, while more than a million users of hand-held or hand-guided power tools are at increased risk of the disease because they are exposed to HAVS above the action level set by the Health and Safety Executive.

It has identified plant operatives and mechanics as the occupations potentially most at risk of HAVS (see box).

The company has also cited the example of GKN Aerospace, which in March was fined £26,800 and ordered to pay costs of £8,256 after admitting four breaches of the Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 between July 2005 and December 2011.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Stewart McNaughton, health and safety consultant at Reactec, said: “The number of construction operatives using vibration tools could pose a real problem to both employers and employees if not managed effectively. It is vital that employers ensure they are effectively monitoring and managing exposure to ­vibration to avoid the costly consequences of over-exposure, such as claims and employee absences, and also to avoid unnecessary health and safety and tool expenditure commonly associated with paper-based HAVS monitoring.”


Personnel Today

previous post
Cases of dengue fever in UK on the rise
next post
Case of the week: Hayes (FC) v Willoughby

You may also like

Restaurant tips should be included in holiday pay

21 May 2025

Fewer workers would comply with a return-to-office mandate

21 May 2025

Redefining leadership: From competence to inclusion

21 May 2025

Pay awards in real terms could fall for...

21 May 2025

Ryanair demands flight attendants pay back salary increase

21 May 2025

Consultation launched after Supreme Court ‘sex’ ruling

20 May 2025

Uncertainty over law hampering legal use of medical...

20 May 2025

Black security manager awarded £360k after decade of...

20 May 2025

Employers ‘worryingly’ ignorant about stress risk assessments

20 May 2025

UK and EU agree to collaborate on ‘youth...

19 May 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today