Chesterfield Royal Hospital trust fined £40,000 after staff were harmed cutting plaster casts off patients

Four employees ended up with wrist problems caused by the vibrations of hand-held drills used when people recovered from broken bones, a court heard.

The Health and Safety Executive said one staff member felt he would have to retire early from Chesterfield Royal Hospital.

Francesca Perera, prosecuting, said the staff had regularly used the equipment. They suffered from hand vibration syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome.

She told the court: "There were no risk assessments for vibration prior to 2023.

"Paperwork and training procedures were not in place regarding management of exposure to vibration."

The hospital trust pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of employees before February 2024.

The trust must pay £4,911 costs and a £2,000 surcharge after appearing at Southern Derbyshire magistrates' court in Derby.

District judge Jonathan Taaffe said: "This is perhaps negligent rather than deliberate.

"The hospital has co-operated in putting in place rigorous procedures."

He said the £40,000 fine was less than national guidelines but that it was important to realise the trust is a "not for profit" organisation.

The judge added: "In the current climate, it should be dealt with in a manner which has the least impact on front line services.

"The trust is dealing with rising costs that happen weekly, monthly. In that time, the budget is not unlimited. In real terms, it is shrinking."

Eleanor Sanderson, defending, said: "The trust has accepted responsibility at an extremely early stage of these proceedings.

"They express sincere apologies for the failure.

"The organisation made really significant changes to the way it approaches its health and safety obligations.

"Those using these tools sign records to make sure they remain under exposure levels and make sure that injuries of this nature cannot happen."