A case of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) has cost General Kinematics Ltd. around £10,000, as it entered into an out-of-court settlement with one of its employees, Keith Rowley.

Mr. Rowley was working as a fitter with the company when he suffered the disease, which occurs due to working with hand-operated vibrating equipment. The disease, also known as Vibration White Finger, causes him constant and intolerable pain in his hands. The pain intensifies in winters and he has to wear gloves to keep his hands warm.

Mr. Rowley has suffered permanent damage leaving him disabled in many ways and therefore, his union, the GMB, instructed legal firm, Thompsons Solicitors, to sue the company. The Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 obligates the employers to assess the risk involved in using these tools and the damage that can be caused to the workers. General Kinematics Ltd. did not accept the responsibility for causing the disease or for its failure to prevent the disease, but has paid the compensation to avoid the law suit.

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Legal Administrator at the GMB, Andrea Austin, commented that Vibration White Finger is very widespread and exists in many countries. Many of the union’s members have suffered from it, which has left them unable to lead normal professional or personal lives.

The advocates of the GMB said that the workers have accepted HAVS as an inevitable part of their profession, but the fact remains that it is still a serious problem, for which they must be given compensation because it disables them for life.