The National Body Repair Association (NBRA) has urged all repairers to ‘rigorously review’ health and safety procedures after a dealership was fined more than £200,000.
The car dealership in Truro was fined £204,000 after two technicians were diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) in 2022. The employees were left with the permanent condition after prolonged exposure to powerful hand tools.
Martyn Rowley, executive director of the NBRA, said: “This case serves as a stark and distressing reminder of the critical importance of robust health and safety procedures within the vehicle repair industry. The impact of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) is life-altering and entirely preventable through proper training, risk assessment, and exposure control.
“The NBRA urges all repairers, large and small, to rigorously review their vibration risk management procedures and ensure full compliance with HSE guidance. No employee should suffer long-term harm due to avoidable exposure. We will continue to work with our members to promote best practice and raise standards across the sector.”
The dealership was owned by Rowes Garage at the time but was acquired by Vertu Motors in November 2023.
HAVS can affect the nerves, blood supply, joints and muscles in the hands and arms, and can get progressively worse.
HAVS symptoms
One of the employees said: “It’s hard to say exactly how long I have had the symptoms for, but I think maybe about eight years. My fingers would go white and I’d lose feeling. This was particularly bad in damp or cold weather.
“I can say that over the years my symptoms seem to have got worse. The blanching has spread and I find it hard to pick up small items.”
The fine of £204,000 followed an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive which concluded Rowes Garage had not carried out sufficient risk assessments or put control measures in place to protect its employees from vibration.
Further, the HSE concluded that employees had not been informed of the risks of vibration or received specific instruction or training.
Risk assessment
HSE inspector Emma O’Hara said: “Rowes Garage had been exposing employees to the risks arising from the use of vibrating tools for a significant period of time.
“They fell below expected standards which has been reflected in the fine that has been imposed. HAVS is a serious and disabling permanent condition and HSE will not hesitate to take action against employers that fall below the expected standard.”
Vertu Motors said:
“This case relates to events that occurred before we acquired the Rowes businesses. We continue to take the health, safety, and wellbeing of all our colleagues extremely seriously.”
