THE UK’s biggest airline has been fined for exposing employees to injury risks at a Scottish airport through a series of health and safety failings.
British Airways (BA) left employees at risk of hand arm vibrations while they used tools as they fixed planes in the firm’s workshop at Glasgow Airport.
BA failed to carry out risk assessments on drills, impact hammers and sanders being used to carry out repairs and the lack of an investigation into the effects of using the hand-held tools meant workers could have suffered as a result.
Hand arm vibration (HAVs) can cause tingling, pins and needles, numbness and pain in the affected persons’ hands.
The firm should have checked the exposure by workers to the vibrations from hand-held tools, potentially exposing the workforce to the risk of injury whilst working within the workshops.
A criminal investigation was launched and called against the company at Paisley Sheriff Court last week.
BA admitted it failed to carry out the legally required protocols between July 2005 and August 2012 at the British Airways Limited premises at Glasgow Airport and was fined £6,500.
A BA spokeswoman said: “We take our responsibility to our colleagues very seriously. As soon as the issue was identified we took immediate action to limit the time they use these tools.”
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