‘Everyone has the right to be protected at work’

Isabelle Colas, a union rep and scientist at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee, Scotland, has learned a lot about the dangers of vibration at work since helping a member with hand arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) earlier this year.

She has been working with the Health and Safety Executive and her employer’s health and safety team to improve the Institute’s guidelines on vibration, as well as the risk assessments for both the machinery and employees who use them.

“The member I helped uses a range of vibrating equipment,” said Isabelle.

“He first reported a tingling sensation in his hands about eight years ago, but it wasn’t picked up at the time as a symptom of HAVS.

“I thought I could work with the Institute and Prospect to change things so that no one else falls through the cracks.

“At least now, after a lengthy process, he has been properly diagnosed and is aware of how long he can use different pieces of equipment before needing to take a break,” said Isabelle.

The member, who wishes to remain anonymous, became concerned again earlier this year when the tingling sensation was lasting for up to 50 minutes after he used vibrating machinery.

At first he requested gloves, because the cold can trigger the symptoms of HAVS, but Isabelle attended a meeting with him and HR. It was decided to send him for an occupational health assessment, at which a formal diagnosis was made.

HSE investigation

The HAVS diagnosis meant that the employer also had to notify HSE, who began an investigation. This has resulted in improved guidelines, procedures and increased awareness about the risk of vibration.

In the meantime, Isabelle did her own research into HAVS and realised there was a lack of information about the condition, both at her place of work and on the Prospect website.

This prompted her to contact Prospect’s research department and she helped the union to design some posters. These posters led to an information leaflet, which can now be used across Prospect.

“The health and safety rep and I decided to run a campaign to raise awareness of the risks of vibration. We also wanted all in the company to be able to recognise the early signs of the condition,” says Isabelle.

As a result, another Prospect member realised that one piece of equipment her team had been using for many years was potentially highly risky. There is an acknowledgment that the assessments can be complicated and tricky, as there can be several variables such as the age of equipment and how well it’s been maintained. But after approaching Prospect’s H&S rep, new working conditions are now in place for this equipment that was indeed found to be high risk.

Isabelle adds that many workers are not aware of the risks, and both the company and health and safety officers need better training.

In particular, too many workers and employers are not following the mandatory risk assessments when operating heavy machinery that govern how long and how frequently an individual should be using them.

Isabelle says: “We have the right to be protected and we have the right to get support. I want to make sure employers don’t pass responsibility on to the employee, but, of course, we must also play our role.”