Construction industry managers need to act now to protect themselves against new breeds of occupational disease claims, warns Norwich Union Risk Services.
Construction industry managers need to act now to protect themselves against new breeds of occupational disease claims, warns Norwich Union Risk Services.
New regulations are being introduced because of the EU Directive on Physical Agents (Vibration) will make it easier for employees to sue for damages.
The proposed regulations, which go out for consultation this month will require employers to identify where workers are at risk from vibration white finger – a condition that can result in nerve and muscle damage and bone and joint disorders – and take active steps to reduce their exposure to a minimum level. Failure to comply can result in criminal prosecutions.
Teresa Budworth, training and consultancy manager at Norwich Union Risk Services, said: “Construction industry managers need to act now – users of road breakers and other vibration tools are most at risk.
“Waiting until this directive becomes law may be too late as the cost of legal action could put smaller construction firms out of business. Employees who develop vibration white finger can find themselves permanently disabled. They can already sue their employer for negligence. The new regulations will simply make it easier for a civil action to be brought by spelling out exactly what is expected of the employer.
“Work-related injuries are an area that the courts are taking increasingly seriously. In a test case in 1997, the High Court awarded more than Ł100,000 to miners suffering from vibration white finger.
Choosing work equipment to minimise vibration, implementing job rotation, carrying out user training and regularly maintaining power tools are just some of the steps we’d advise construction companies to take.”
For more information on how to conduct a risk assessment, contact the Norwich Union Risk Services team on 0500 55 99 77.
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For further information, please contact: Alison Owen or Debbie Wells at Staniforth on 0161 274 0100 or David Ross at Norwich Union on 08703 66 68 65/07786 526350.
Notes to editors
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