Chesterfield Royal Hospital Fine puts NHS Trusts on Notice
On the 12th of January, Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was fined £40,000 after several employees were diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). The conditions developed following prolonged workplace exposure to vibrating equipment.
As a result, IOM is encouraging those using vibrating tools in the healthcare sector, including mortuaries, operating theatres, accident and emergency departments and fracture clinics to review their own HAV safety assessments.
According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) news report:
“The investigation found the Trust failed to carry out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks posed by the use of vibrating tools. There were no records to demonstrate the level of vibration exposure employees faced, and the Trust also failed to eliminate exposure or reduce it to as low as reasonably practicable.
Furthermore, it became clear that employees had not been provided with suitable and sufficient information, instruction or training about the risks associated with vibration exposure.”
This case highlights how, with an occupational hygiene workplan, this exposure could have been identified and managed long before it reached the stage of affecting staff. It also reinforces the need to make staff aware of the risks they are being exposed to and how to mitigate them.
Speaking to the HSE, Sally Elliott describes how she was never warned about the risks of vibration exposure. “I never, for one minute, suspected that the issues I was experiencing were being caused by the tools I used in my workplace.”
IOM supports organisations by offering Hand Arm Vibration testing, assessing vibration risks and advising on appropriate mitigating control measures. If you want to ensure that you are compliant, IOM offers reassurance with minimal disruption to working conditions. In addition, IOM can test electro surgical tools to prevent exposure to diathermy fume (a known carcinogen) in your hospital. Longer term, IOM’s industrial hygiene team provides annual work plans, ensuring that all hazards are managed effectively.