It is all too easy for bodyshops and their employees to become complacent when it comes to health and safety issues, but the genuine dangers of certain equipment use has been highlighted by a court case in the UK. 

A bodyshop owned by the Rowes Garage Group, in Truro in Cornwall, has been fined over £200,000 after workers were diagnosed with a disabling condition through excessive exposure to vibrating tools such as random-orbital sanders and reciprocating saws. The workers were diagnosed with HAVS, hand arm vibration syndrome. 

The Health and Safety Executive brought the case saying that, exposure to vibration can affect a person's health and can lead to painful and disabling disorders of the nerves, blood supply, joints and muscles of the hands and arms. 

Investigators found that the bodyshop owners failed in not having sufficient monitoring of tool use by employees and lacked sufficient risk assessment and control measures. It also found that the employees were not made aware of the risks of tool use and lacked necessary training. The company also failed to act to reduce exposure when symptoms became apparent. 

Rowes Garage Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £204,000 and ordered to pay costs. 

The case highlights the genuine risks of the use of certain bodyshop equipment if appropriate training and tools use monitoring is not put in place. It also highlights the need for appropriate health and safety training of employees, so that they can spot danger signs early.