[1] The regulations place a duty on employers to reduce the risk to their employees’ health from exposure to vibration whether this is caused by the use of hand-held or hand-guided power equipment, holding materials which are being processed by machines or which is caused by the sitting or standing on industrial machines or vehicles.

[4] The risk of suffering from a disorder is increased dependent on the exposure to vibration and can vary widely between individuals.

Drivers of certain tractors, forklift trucks, quarrying or earth moving machinery could be exposed to WBV which could lead to back pain.

[13] On 21 January 2011 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced the successful prosecution of Cheshire East council after a maintenance worker suffered a permanent loss of movement to his hands.

Despite being identified as having the early stages of hand arm vibration syndrome in July 2005, the worker was reassessed in 2006 and then no further assessment was made until 2009.

[14] The court heard that the employee now had difficulty picking up small objects and that his hands became very painful in cold weather.

[14] Chris Goddard, the investigating officer from the HSE, said "The worker was first diagnosed as developing hand arm vibration syndrome in 2005 but the council failed to take any significant action for nearly four years to stop the condition getting worse...