Britain's biggest bus manufacturer has been ordered to pay a ￡100,000 fine and ￡18,643 costs after it ignored diverse warnings about dangers to its workers' health from the overuse of hand-held power tools. In 2012, nine workers were diagnosed with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) at the premises of coach builder Plaxton in North Anston, South Yorkshire. Plaxton is owned by Alexander Dennis, a bus and coach builder, and the site in North Anston is used as an after sales, repair and refurbishment depot. The HSE found that Alexander Dennis, which is based in Edinburgh, had for several years "persistently failed to heed expert advice, specialist reports and complaints from workers of pain, discomfort, numbness and whiteness in their fingers". Such symptoms are indicative of HAVS, which is a permanent condition that can lead to severely reduced grip and dexterity in the hands.
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