Thanet District Council appeared “in the dock” at court today to admit breaches of health and safety regulations over “white finger” syndrome.

The council – through its defence barrister – entered guilty pleas to two of four charges involving offences from 2005 to 2014.

The hearing at Canterbury Crown Court was then postponed until next month for the Health Safety Executive to decide if the pleas are acceptable or to seek a trial on the other two charges.

Prosecutor Richard Beyne told Judge Heather Norton that the charges related to workers at the Dane Park Depot.

It is believed the case involved up to 40 workers and involve the use of grave digging equipment, lawnmowers and other specialist equipment.

The charges - which the council admitted - were contravening the “Control of Vibration at Work Regulations by failing to reduce employees’ exposure to vibration, including Robert Harris to a low a level as was reasonably practicable”.

“Vibration White Finger” syndrome is also called “hand arm vibration syndrome” or “dead finger” is a secondary form of the industrial injury called Raynaud’s syndrome, brought on by a continual use of vibrating hand-held machinery.

Mr Beyne said that from 2005 until a report was made in 2014 a number of people were diagnosed with the condition, or variants of the illness.

“This was a systematic failure by the council to protect the interests of their workers during that period. Nothing was done in relation to training or risk assessment,” he added.