Three Arriva train drivers have won £22,000 compensation in successful carpel tunnel syndrome claims after poor working conditions left them with repetitive strain injuries (RSI).
Paul Studholme, Gary Thomas and Barry Rogan worked for Arriva Trains Wales at the Carmarthen depot. They had complained of inadequate seats with little or no room for adjustments and no arm rests in the driver's cab.
The three train drivers complained that they had suffered carpel tunnel syndrome which causes pain, numbness and a tingling sensation in the hand and fingers. The injury results from doing a particular activity repeatedly over a long period in unsatisfactory work stations.
All three drivers adopted different methods of moving and resting their hands whilst operating the controls in the train cab. When driving the train, the driver would need to move his hand and operate a control more frequently than once every 30 seconds.
His Honour Judge Vosper sitting at Swansea County Court in December 2009 ruled that each driver had proved that they suffered from carpel tunnel syndrome and that it was caused by their work conditions.
Arriva failed to carry out an appropriate risk assessment to establish the ergonomic risk to their drivers of developing RSI.
Paul Studholme, 43, said "It is a great relief that the judge has supported our argument. Carpel tunnel syndrome forced me to go on sick for a number of months and as a result I became depressed.
"The fact that three of us in the same depot all developed this condition shows that more should have been done to improve our working conditions".
This case sets a precedent for all train drivers who suffer carpel tunnel syndrome.
Workers can make compensation claims if they suffer workplace injury, talk to Balinda and Co or read more here.