A panel beater had worked for over 15 years with a major car dealership, repairing vehicles using a variety of hand-held power tools. More recently the number of employees in the body shop fell but the workload remained fairly constant, and the panel beater's use of power tools rose from two or three hours a day to five, six or even more.
He started to develop HAVS symptoms and reported it to his employer who eventually sent him for a medical examination, where he was diagnosed with early stage vibration white finger (VWF). Despite this his workload grew and his condition deteriorated.
HSE got to hear of the situation and investigated. On-site measurements taken by HSE showed that the panel beater's average daily usage was around double the recommended exposure – and sometimes considerably higher. The extent of his condition meant the panel beater had to give up vehicle repair work altogether.
The company was prosecuted and had to pay £38,000.
