Freeclaim Solicitors News
Ford Motor Worker Receives £8,500 Work Injury Compensation
Thu 20th Aug 09 - 13:12
A man who was diagnosed with Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), also known as Vibration White Finger, has received £8,500 in workplace injury compensation. A Ford Motor Company employee, his condition was caused by the use of power tools and vibrating devices at work.
In 2005 he started to notice problems with his hands, and his fingers turning white in cold spells. He said: "I worked with Ford for 33 years and during that time I used a number of different vibrating tools every day. I was never warned about the dangers of developing this condition."
Ford Motor Company admitted that they had failed to protect the safety of their employees.
Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome is a condition often caused by working with vibrating machinery and tools such as chain saws, sanders and pneumatic drills. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) believes that as much as two million people could be at risk of developing the syndrome due to the tools they use in the workplace.
Symptoms of Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) or Vibration White Finger can include:
- The fingers may become numb and tingle which continues after the machine has been switched off.
- Just one fingertip may temporarily turn white and start to ache; the finger may then turn white with increasing frequency.
- Other fingers begin turning white, but the thumb is not usually affected. After several fingers turn white, the disease is probably irreversible.
- Your arms and hands may also ache and feel painful.
If you or a family member have worked with vibrating tools or machinery and think you may have Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome or Vibration White Finger, you may be entitled to receive workplace injury compensation. Freeclaim industrial disease and work injury solicitors have experience in handling these types of compensation claims. Contact Freeclaim online or call 0800 24 34 09 open 24 hrs a day.