HGV Mechanic diagnosed with White Finger

Mr P was awarded £15,000 compensation in 2009

Mr P worked for Scan Truck from 1991 to 1997, using air tools such as impact guns, air hammers, needle guns, air hacksaws and air ratchets. The emphasis at Scan Truck was on speed which meant the use of air tools to work faster. Their attitude was that you needed to get on with the job and do it as quickly as possible and earn the company as much money as you could.

Whilst working for Scan Truck, he received in-house training, but none of this training dealt with the use of air/pneumatic tools, nor did any of the manuals inform as to how to use the tools or how long you could safely use the tools without exposing yourself to the risk of developing vibration white finger.

On some jobs, for example stripping down an engine he would be required to use air tools for approximately 50% of the time. Other jobs such as replacing brake linings, he would use an impact gun for 25% of the time. Replacing a clutch would require the use of impact guns and air ratchets for virtually the whole of the job.

Similarly when replacing a fifth wheel or shackle hanger brackets, he would use either air hammers or air guns constantly. He would have to remove 30 rivets from the chassis, requiring the use of an impact hammer for between 1 and 1 ½ hours.

He left Scan Truck in 1997 and went to work for S & B Commercials at Welham Green. He worked for S & B Commercials for approximately 1 year, working on HGV vehicles ranging from 3 ½ to 38 tonnes. The work involved the use of vibrating machinery for clutch repair and replacement, engine rebuilds and brake refits. When he left S & B Commercials, he went to work for Duffields Of East Anglia who were bought out by the Volvo Group.

Using air tools at Volvo

Whilst working for Volvo he was exposed to vibrations from the air tools that he used on a daily basis.

He believes that the exposure to vibration was slightly greater than that with Scan Truck and as he was required to carry out endless clutch changes, engine repairs and gear box repair and replacement which required the use of impact guns and wrenches.

The compressor unit at Volvo did not have a air dryer fitted to it, which meant that when the power was supplied to the tools water came through the tools, which caused them not only to work faster but also to vibrate more. He remembers that despite complaints, he was told that an air dryer could not be fitted to the compressor as it would have been too expensive.

In addition Volvo operated a “name and shame” policy placing the various mechanics efficiencies on the notice board for the whole workshop to see.

There were approximately 50 mechanics employed at one stage by the company and obviously you did not want to be at the bottom of the list as far as productivity was concerned, This forced everyone to work harder and faster. He finished working for Volvo in the December 2007.

Throughout the whole of his employment as an HGV mechanic, he was never warned about the effects and risks of using air powered tools, nor was his health monitored by any of the companies.

Constant use of air tools can cause White Finger

Mr P summarises his white finger symptoms as follows . . .

" Towards the end of 2007 I noticed that the index and middle finger of both my left and right hand started to go white and numb when it was cold and damp and also after I had been using any of my air tools for a short period of time. In addition to these fingers going white, they hurt and it affected my dexterity as I was unable to grip with them and had to pick things up using my nails. In order to get feeling back into my fingers I would either have to put them on a radiator in the workshops office or run them under the hot tap. It used to take a couple of minutes for the colour to come back to my fingers and when the colour came back to my fingers I suffered pins and needles which were very painful until my hands returned to normal. I would say that my fingers were affected down to my knuckle. "

It was as a result of losing feeling in his fingers and the resultant pain, that he realised that he could not carry on working as an HGV mechanic with air tools as this would only lead to further damage. Our solicitors were therefore able to show that he suffered a loss in both earnings and also potential earnings as a result of not being able to uses the air powered tools that he needed to use in order to work efficiently and effectively as an HGV mechanic.

If you have worked as a motor mechanic or HGV mechanic, you may have used air tools on a daily basis. If this has caused Vibration White Finger, our solicitors can help you to claim compensation. If you would like some advice on whether you are eligible to claim, please call us on FreePhone 0800 783 9535 and ask to speak to Lynne Manners or Warren Miller.

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