A metal fabrication company based at Immingham Docks in North East Lincolnshire has been sentenced after pleading guilty to exposing multiple employees to vibration risks at work.

HSE became aware in June 2024 of three reports of vibration-related illness among employees of Drury Engineering Services. An investigation was opened and an improvement notice served on the company to control the ongoing risk. The notice was served because the company had failed to reduce employees’ vibration exposure to as low a level as reasonably practicable through organisational and technical measures.

During the investigation, inspectors identified a further three employees who met the threshold for reporting to HSE due to vibration-related illness. A seventh report was made by the company later that year.

Employees told inspectors the illness was affecting their daily lives. Some experienced finger blanching during simple household tasks such as mowing the lawn. Others were kept awake at night by numbness in their hands, while some described being unable to grip and suffering nerve damage.

Drury Engineering Services has been operating at Immingham Docks since 2000. A new health and safety manager was appointed in June 2022 and began work to address issues with the company’s vibration management system, but by this point employees had already been significantly exposed to vibration risks. The investigation found that the company had failed to suitably and sufficiently assess the risks from vibration exposure or implement organisational and technical measures to reduce vibration exposure to as low a level as reasonably practicable.

The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £44,000 and ordered to pay £8,061.70 in costs at Grimsby Magistrates’ Court.

Chris Tilley, HSE principal inspector said: “This fine should send a clear message that both HSE and the courts take seriously the failure to manage employees’ exposure to vibration. HSE will not hesitate to take action against companies that do not do all they should to keep people healthy and safe.”

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